Space Fence

Abstract

The Space Fence effort will develop a system of ground-based sensors to improve upon the former Air Force Space Surveillance System (AFSSS), a Very High Frequency (VHF) radar operational from 1961 to 2013. The Space Fence will provide a more accurate and timely detection capability of smaller orbiting objects, primarily in low-earth orbit (LEO). The system will use higher frequency S-band radars at globally dispersed sites. As a result, it will greatly expand the uncued detection and tracking capacity of the Space Surveillance Network, from around 20,000 to up to 100,000+ objects, while working in concert with other network sensors. Requirements are identified in the June 2012 approved Space Fence Capabilities Development Document. 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.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2015
• Source ID: 0604426F_5_3600_PB_2015
• Change Summary Explanation: FY15: Program transistioned from PE 0604425F - SSA Systems, project 65A009 in order to improve transparancy for ACAT I acquisition programs.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Sensors

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Budgets
• Contracts
• Cost Analysis
• Demonstrations
• Earth Orbits
• Engineering
• Fences
• Low Earth Orbits
• Manufacturing
• Production
• Radar
• Radar Components
• Situational Awareness
• Space Situational Awareness
• Space Surveillance

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Radar Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Space
• Space - Satellites
• Space - Space Objects