Military Space Operations: Satellite Control System Improved, but Serious Problems Remain

Abstract

The Department of Defense's (DOD) satellites perform a wide variety of missions to support national security interests and pursue advances in research and development. The missions include communications, navigation, strategic defense, tactical warning and attack assessment, and other classified missions. The Air Force's Satellite Control Network controls satellite launches, maintains satellites, and keeps them in orbit. Since 1980, Air Force Systems Command has been upgrading its satellite command and control system, called the Command and Control Segment (CCS). The Chairman, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces and Nuclear Deterrence, Senate Committee on Armed Services, concerned about the program's shifting requirements, continuing schedule delays, technical problems, and increasing costs, asked GAO to review the Air Force's actions to complete the command and control system upgrade and turn it over to Air Force Space Command in 1993.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Dec 01, 1991
Accession Number
ADA256809

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force Facilities
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Computer Programming
  • Computer Programs
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Department Of Defense
  • Engineering
  • Information Processing
  • Information Systems
  • Software Development
  • Spacecraft
  • System Software
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Test Facilities

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Tactical Satellite Communications Systems Engineering.

Technology Areas

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