7/27/2019 FOCUS ON_ Space Tracking and Surveillance System _ MilsatMagazine
1/4
2/19/13 FOCUS ON: Space Tracking and Surveillance System : MilsatMagazine
www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368
Print Article
Email Article
Email Alerts
FOCUS ON: Space Tracking and Surveillance SystemExcerpted from the Department of Defenses Missile Defense Agencys STSS Fact Sheet and their BMDS Booklet
entitled Missile DefenseWorldwide
The United States, in active partnership wi th its allies , has fielded an initial la yered
integrated Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS). The United States has come a long
way since President Ronald Reagan first delivered his challenge to the defense community 25 years agoto develop
antiballistic miss ile technologies to im prove our national security and lessen our reliance on nuclear deterrence. Althou
the nature of the threat has changed subs tantially since he envisioned the Strategic Defense Initiative, the harsh realities
of todays global security environment push the United States to field missile defenses as soon as poss ible.
Ballistic missile
defense is one of the most complex and challenging
missions in the Department of Defense (DoD). A ballistic
miss iles altitude, speed, and range leave a defender
little time to react. To meet this challenge, the Missile
Defense Agency (MDA) is developing a layered,
integrated system capable of destroying a ballistic
miss ile in each of three distinct phases of flightboost,
midcourse, and terminal. The system requires accurate
miss ile identification and tracking with advanced
sensors ; advanced interceptor missiles or directed
energy weapons (e.g., lasers ); and reliable Command
and Control, Battle Management, and Com munications
(C2BMC) to integrate the system and direct the
engagement.
With the initial field ing of the BMDS in July 2006, the
United States now has a limited defense agains t ballistic miss ile attack. This initial capability provides a defense agains t short- and medium-range ballis ti
missiles using PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles and Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) Standard Missile-3 (SM-3). The initial
capability also enables engagement of intermediate-range and intercontinental ballistic miss iles in the midcourse phase us ing Ground-Based Interceptors
(GBIs). These layers are integrated through an advanced C2BMC network.
The Agencys mis sionto develop and field an integrated, layered BMDS to defend the United States, its deployed forces, allies, and friends agains t all
ranges of mis siles in all phases of flightis more relevant now than ever before. The years ahead will be demanding as MDA continues the tough task of
developing, testing, and enhancing our worldwide ballistic missile defenses .
Download Edition
Contents
Priority Briefings
General Michael Hame l
Brigadier General Ellen M.
Pawlikowski
General James Armor
(Ret.)
Features
The SWap Meet
Military Satellite History
Focus On
Space Tracking &
Surveillance
TSAT Technology is
Mature
Executive Spotlight
Gregory Smo lka
Regular DepartmentsProduction Notes
Calendar Of Events
Pas t News
May 2008 Edition - The Military Market
Home Free Subscription This Month Past Editions Events Search
http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/banner_counter.cgi?number=1661179335&db=top&location=http://www.ses-gs.com/?MilsatBanner/http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/banner_counter.cgi?number=1661179335&db=top&location=http://www.ses-gs.com/?MilsatBanner/http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1811044549http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=588669278http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1736929354http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1825909880http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1940931528http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_edition.cgi?number=2037669244http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/download_counter.cgi?edition=2037669244&sendto=http://www.milsatmagazine.com/2011/MSM_JulyAug.pdfhttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/download_counter.cgi?edition=2037669244&sendto=http://www.milsatmagazine.com/2011/MSM_JulyAug.pdfhttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/download_counter.cgi?edition=2037669244&sendto=http://www.milsatmagazine.com/2011/MSM_JulyAug.pdfhttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/download_counter.cgi?edition=2037669244&sendto=http://www.milsatmagazine.com/2011/MSM_JulyAug.pdfhttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/download_counter.cgi?edition=2037669244&sendto=http://www.milsatmagazine.com/2011/MSM_JulyAug.pdfhttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_edition.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/register_milmag.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/search.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/calendar.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368#http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368#http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/register_milmag.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_edition.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/edition_stories.cgi?edition=2037669244http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/calendar.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=802521790http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=802521790http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1909679488http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1909679488http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1430644606http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1811044549http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=588669278http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=588669278http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1736929354http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1825909880http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1940931528http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=1940931528http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_edition.cgi?number=2037669244http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/download_counter.cgi?edition=2037669244&sendto=http://www.milsatmagazine.com/2011/MSM_JulyAug.pdfhttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/banner_counter.cgi?number=1661179335&db=top&location=http://www.ses-gs.com/?MilsatBanner/http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/register_milmag.cgihttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368&method=emailhttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368&method=print7/27/2019 FOCUS ON_ Space Tracking and Surveillance System _ MilsatMagazine
2/4
2/19/13 FOCUS ON: Space Tracking and Surveillance System : MilsatMagazine
www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368
STSS Satellite, Cycle 1, Flights
1 and 2
Credit: Northrop Grumman
Hot from the Miss ile Defense Agency is their latest Fact Sheetand BMDS Booklet entitled Missile DefenseWorldwide. These publications inform interest
parties of the agencys purs uit of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) program as a space-bas ed sensor component of the Ballistic
Missile Defense System. The STSS program uses sensors capable of detecting visible and in frared light. STSS will become part of a constellation of land,
sea, air, and space-based Ballis tic Miss ile Defense System sens ors.
During 2008, two research and development satellites will be launched via Delta II launch vehicle into low earth orbit,
with a ground segm ent developed to operate the satellites. This ground s egment will also be des igned for re-use
with subsequent research and development satellites. The STSS ground station will become operational
approximately one year prior to the launch date, which will allow for adequate time to train the operators. The ground
segmen t will communicate with the miss ile defense Com mand, Control, Battle Management, and Communication
system.
The STSS Demonstration Program will demo the key functions of a s pace-
based sensor. Miss ile tracking data will be pass ed to missile defense
interceptors with the accuracy and timeliness necessary to enable them to
success fully intercept miss ile targets. The less ons learned from the on-orbit operation of the demo s atellites will
provide a sound foundation to proceed with the fielding of an operational constellation.
In the initial program, the demo sa tellites a re comprised of refurbished hardware that was originally built as flight demo satellites. STSS will perform on-orb
testing of sensor performance agains t ground targets, airborne targets, as well as short and long-range ballis tic miss ile targets. The demo s atellites are
expected to be available for between two to four years after their launch.
The Future Developm ent Program of STSS will use the less ons learned from des ign, development, and early on-orbit testing of the demo satellites and us e
that data to upgrade the system. Through ground s tation and spacecraft software upgrades, this effort will improve the Dem onstration Satellite experiment,
reduce risk for the STSS follow-on program, and improve the contingency operations capability.
The Follow-On Program will find the MDA continuing to plan for the operational constellation of STSS satellites to enable m iss ile tracking. There will be
improvements made in sa tellite lifetime, producibility, and the ability to process and comm unicate miss ile-tracking data to interceptors.
Ballistic Missile Defense Space Sensors
The MDA Space Applications Product Center of Excellence is res ponsible for leading a m ulti-agency DoD and industry team in developing, testing, and
deploying space systems to detect and track ballistic miss iles from launch through midcourse flight and eventual intercept or reentry. Miss ion objectives
include developing space technologies that support MDAs s pace ass ets, including sensors, space qualified componen ts, optics, and algorithms .
http://www.miteq.com/7/27/2019 FOCUS ON_ Space Tracking and Surveillance System _ MilsatMagazine
3/4
2/19/13 FOCUS ON: Space Tracking and Surveillance System : MilsatMagazine
www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368
NFIRE satellite with Track Sensor
Payload (SAIC) and Laser
Communications Terminal (Tesat-
Spacecom)
Credit: GDC4S
The Missile Defense Agencys NFIRE
satellite lifted off aboard an Air Force
Minotaur 1 rocket April 24 from NASAs
Wallops Flight Facility on the east coast of
Virginia.
Photo courtesy of NASA
Raytheons advanced
STSS Block 06
Sensor Suit
Image: Raytheon
Raytheons STSS Block 06
program extends the reach and
effectiveness of the Ballistic
Missile Defense System, enabling
The Space Applications Center of Excellence will play a lead role in any future space initiatives undertaken by MDA and facilitate the integration of external
Overhead Non-Imaging Infrared (ONIR) sens ors.
Program Description
Each of the two low earth orbit research and demo s atellites us e an acquisition s ensor for mis sile launch detection and a movable tracking sensor to follow
midcourse objects in s pace. The STSS demonstration satellites will demonstrate the ability to pass m iss ile-tracking data to system interceptors with the
accuracy and timeliness necessary to enable them to succes sfully intercept missile targets. MDA will be able to make m ore informed decisions regarding t
fielding of satellites for the operational architecture as the data is obtained from these s atellites.
The Missile Defense Space Experimentation Center(MDSEC) in Colorado Springs , Colorado is the integration
center for MDAs Space Applications Center of Excellence, which provides a single location for operating STSS
and Near-Field Infrared Experiment(NFIRE) satellites and for conducting space-related Research Development
Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) activities in support of the missile defense m iss ion.
The NFIREsatellite, built by General Dynamics Advanced
Information Systems , was launched on April 24, 2007 and
will reduce the risk to next-generation BMDS interceptors
on land, at sea, and in space by collecting s ignature data
on boosting ballistic miss iles at close range in real-world
conditions. The data collected will anchor design tools for
future interceptor hardware, software, and algorithm
development. NFIRE also will provide MDA with early experience coordinating space assets with BMD
flight tests.
The objective of the Space Test Bed is to evaluate the utility and cost-effectiveness of enhancing m iss
defense by adding a comprehens ive space layer to overcome bas ing and geographical lim itations of
land, sea, and airborne defenses . The evaluation would include multi-use s ensors and C2BMC.
Contributions To The BMDS
MDA Space Sensors will play a s ignificant role in a global m iss ile defense capability by providing
continuous tracking of ballistic missiles and pass ing tracking information to BMDS radars and
interceptors. Accurate tracking data provided by space sens ors will increase the robus tness of the
BMDS, allow additional and earlier intercept opportunities, and provide coverage in locations
inaccessible to
BMDS radars year 2007 accomplishments:
Completed NFIRE satellite integration and ground testing
Launched NFIRE satellite and began operating from the MDSEC
Continued integration and testing of two Space Trackin and Surveillance System Demons tration s atellites
Delivered payload #2 to s pace vehicle integration
Completed thermal vacuum testing on both s atellites
Completed final acceptance of ground software
The Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) program is developing and fielding a capability to defend the United States against intermediate- and
long-range ballistic miss ile attacks in the midcourse phas e of flight.
GMD uses a variety of satellites and radars (Cobra Dane Radar, Upgraded Early
Warning Radars, Sea-Based X-Band Radar, Forward-Based AN/TPY-2 Radar, and
theAegis AN/SPY-1 Radar) to obtain information on launch warning, tracking,
targeting, and dis crimination via the Command and Control, Battle Management,
and Comm unications system and the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense Fire
Control and Communications com ponent. This information enables the Ground-
Based Interceptor(GBI) to locate, identify, and destroy the incoming ballistic
missile warhead.
7/27/2019 FOCUS ON_ Space Tracking and Surveillance System _ MilsatMagazine
4/4
2/19/13 FOCUS ON: Space Tracking and Surveillance System : MilsatMagazine
www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368
intercept events from lounch
through midcourse and
coordination with ground-based
platforms.
Image: Raytheon
The Contracting Authority is the Miss ile Defense Agency (MDA) through the U.S. Air Force Space & Miss ile
Systems Center (SMC), El Segundo, California. MDA plans to eventually expand STSS to at least 18 satellites in
order to cover key threat regions such as Asia and the Middle East. STSS will achieve worldwide coverage once
30 satellites are deployed.
Return To Top
Post a Comment:
Public Comment Private Comment
Name (required)
E-mail (will not be published) (required)
Company
Comment:
Verification Code (required)
Submit Comment
Return To Top
http://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368#tophttp://www.milsatmagazine.com/cgi-bin/display_article.cgi?number=2110085368#topTop Related