Colorado Governor proclaims Dec. 4 "Space-based Missile Warning Day" Published Nov. 19, 2015 By 460th Space Wing Public Affairs DENVER -- WHEREAS, since 1970, the United States Air Force at Buckley Air Force Base has used infrared data to accurately track missile launches worldwide, providing an essential component of global defense and national security; and WHEREAS, approximately 8,000 infrared events are detected and addressed each year, all from spacecraft connected to Colorado, providing safety and security to billions of people around the world; and WHEREAS, the 460th Space Wing at Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora, Colorado provides operational command and control of three constellations of space-based infrared missile warning systems and today celebrates the 45th anniversary of the initial operational capability of the Defense Support Program (DSP) spacecraft; and WHEREAS, the 233rd Space Group at Greeley Air National Guard Station in Greeley, Colorado provides the nation's only persistent, survivable space-based missile warning capacity and is comprised of dedicated citizens from the Colorado Air National Guard; and WHEREAS, Colorado is proud to be a leader in providing space-based missile warning which has a far-reaching utility and whose multi-use services are critical to national and global security; Therefore, I, John W. Hickenlooper, Governor of the entire State of Colorado, do hereby proclaim, forever after, December 4, 2015, as SPACE-BASED MISSILE WARNING DAY GIVEN under my hand and the Executive Seal of the State of Colorado, this fourth day of December, 2015 John W. Hickenlooper Governor in the State of Colorado.