Exatmospheric Intercept - A Gold Mine for Signature and Impact Data,
Abstract
On January 28, 1991 the U.S. Army Strategic Defense Command's (USASDC) Ground Based Interceptor (GBI) Project Office began a series of exoatmospheric intercepts of target re-entry vehicles with ground launched missiles. Space provides a unique environment to gather a large volume of pre- and post-impact data. This data supports not only the GBI Project but also is useful to many other USASDC and Strategic Defense Initiative Organization (SDIO) Projects and Directorates. The test was conducted at the U.S. Army Kwajalein Atoll (USAKA) located in the Marshall Islands in the Central Pacific. A variety of sensors and airborne platforms were used to provide both a broad spectrum of data and backup collection capabilities. These sensors included the interceptor itself (prior to impact), a fly-along Observer Package, two different types of aircraft, and the radars at USAKA. Future intercepts will use these and other sensor assets to optimize and increase the data collected. The pre-impact data provided a wealth of target signature data across the electromagnetic spectrum. One application is the validation of the various signature generation codes and simulations. The post-impact data provided impact signatures and characterization of the debris clouds. The primary applications of this data are in terms of RV lethality, kill assessment, and space debris interaction.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 27, 1992
- Accession Number
- ADA345814
Entities
People
- J. Katechis
- John A. Caldwell