Space Situation 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 surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed reconnaissance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; intelligence on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. Program Element 0305940F, Space Situational Awareness Operations, fields, upgrades, operates and maintains Air Force sensors and information integration capabilities within the SSA network while companion program element 0604425F, Space Situational Awareness Systems, develops new network sensors and improved information integration capabilities across the network. Activities funded in the SSA Operations 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 (SLEP) in this program element fund efforts to upgrade and extend the life of operational 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), and Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) are representative of sensor systems 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.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2015
Source ID
0305940F_7_3600_PB_2015
Change Summary Explanation
FY13: Congressional General Reductions (-$.026M) FY13: Sequestration Reduction (-$1.485M) FY13: SBIR Reduction (-$1.345M) FY14: Congressional General Reduction (-$6.0) FY15: Non-Pay Inflation Adjustment (-$.144)
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Beam Steering
  • Contracts
  • Control Systems
  • Data Processing
  • Deep Space
  • Life Cycle Management
  • Radar
  • Situational Awareness
  • Space Objects
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Space Surveillance
  • Surveillance
  • Systems Engineering
  • Test And Evaluation
  • W Band
  • X 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

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