Space Situation Awareness Systems

Abstract

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is knowledge of all aspects of space related to operations as described in the approved SSA Initial Capabilities Document (ICD). 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 (PE) develops new Air Force sensors, and improved information capabilities for integration across the SSA network; it also includes developmental planning and technology forecasting for future blocks and emerging needs. A companion program element, 0305940F, Space Situational Awareness Operations, fields, upgrades, operationalizes, operates, and sustains existing sensors and information integration capabilities within the SSA network. An additional companion program element, 0305614F, JSpOC Mission System, processes surveillance of all space objects and activities, maintains detailed reconnaissance of space assets, fuses space data, maintains awareness of cooperative space assets, and allows JFCC-Space to conduct integrated C2 of space forces. Development activities are necessary to deploy new advanced sensors capable of searching for, tracking, and identifying the expanding number of debris objects on orbit as well as the increasing number of satellites launched by other nations, of which many are smaller and more capable than previous spacecraft. These activities are also required to better integrate the disparate elements of SSA in order to enable rapid and responsive space operations. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full-rate production.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2017
Source ID
0604425F_5_3600_PB_2017
Change Summary Explanation
FY2017: -$26.415M for re-phase of SBSS Follow-on; -$.238M inflation adjustment
Service Agency Name
Air Force

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • C Band
  • Cost Analysis
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Geographic Regions
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Manufacturing
  • Situational Awareness
  • Space Based
  • Space Objects
  • Space Situational Awareness
  • Space Surveillance
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.

Technology Areas

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

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