Military Space Programs: Issues Concerning DOD's SBIRS and STSS Programs

Abstract

The Department of Defense's (DOD's) programs to develop new satellites to alert U.S. military commanders to foreign missile launches, and to support missile defense objectives, are controversial because of cost growth and schedule slippage. SBIRS-High, managed by the Air Force, would replace existing Defense Support Program "early warning" satellites. The Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS, formerly SBIRS-Low), managed by the Missile Defense Agency, would perform missile tracking and target discrimination for missile defense objectives. For FY2004, DOD is requesting $617 million for SBIRS-High RDT&E, $95 million for SBIRS-High procurement (of a backup control station), and $300 million for STSS RDT&E. The House approved the requested funding in the FY2004 DOD authorization bill, while the Senate cut STSS by $15.5 million (H.R. 1588/S. 1050). In the FY2004 DOD appropriations act (P.L. 108-87), SBIRS-High is fully funded, and STSS is cut by $15.5 million.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 03, 2003
Accession Number
ADA472575

Entities

People

  • Marcia S. Smith

Organizations

  • Library of Congress

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Apogees
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Contracts
  • Cost Estimates
  • Defense Systems
  • Detectors
  • Early Warning Systems
  • Elliptical Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Orbits
  • Geosynchronous Satellites
  • Ground Based
  • Procurement
  • Reconnaissance Satellites
  • Space Systems
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites