Space Situational Awareness Operations

Abstract

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is knowledge of all aspects of space related to operations. As the foundation for space control, SSA encompasses intelligence on adversary space operations; surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed reconnaissance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. This program element fields, upgrades, operates and maintains Air Force sensors and information integration capabilities within the SSA network while companion program element 0604425F, Space Situation Awareness Systems, develops new network sensors and improved information integration capabilities across the network. Activities funded in this program element focus on surveillance of objects in earth orbit to aid tasks including satellite tracking; space object identification; tracking and cataloging; satellite attack warning; notification of satellite flyovers to U.S. forces; space treaty monitoring; and technical intelligence gathering. The Sensor Service Life Extension Programs (SLEPs) fund efforts to upgrade and extend the life of operational Space Situation Awareness (SSA) sensors, as needed. These SLEPs include, but are not limited to, programs that extend the serviceable life of assets and maintain critical capability by replacing aging and increasingly unsustainable components with modern equipment. SLEPs may incorporate equipment which inherently includes technological advances resulting in enhanced or increased capabilities. In addition, the SLEP itself may be designed to increase certain capabilities. The current efforts of Eglin, Haystack Ultra-wideband Satellite Imaging Radar (HUSIR), Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS), and Globus II are representative of sensor systems upgraded in the SLEP project. As the need arises in the execution year, funds in this project may be used to begin sensor life extension programs on additional efforts. These efforts are in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development, because they develop modifications for operational SSA sensors.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Source ID
0305940F_7_3600_PB_2012
Change Summary Explanation
FY12: $5.759 was transferred from procurement (Space Mods Space) to RDTE funding FY12: -$.440 was removed for Air Force efficiencies FY12: -$.107 was removed for OSD inflations
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Beam Steering
  • Contracts
  • Cost Analysis
  • Costs
  • Deep Space
  • Engineering
  • Ground Based
  • Radar
  • Situational Awareness
  • Space Objects
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Space Surveillance
  • Surveillance
  • Test And Evaluation
  • W Band

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites
  • Space - Space Objects

Related Documents