Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS)

Abstract

Two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) satellites provide a low earth orbit sensor capability with visible and infrared sensors for integrated testing with other Missile Defense System (MDS) elements. STSS demonstrates space-based capabilities including persistent tracking and integrated MDS discrimination improvements. These two satellites provide valuable risk reduction for acquisition, tracking, complex scenes, and discrimination functionality to include stereo data fusion, cuing radars over-the-horizon, and over-the-horizon fire control. The on-orbit sensors collect invaluable background, scene, and target signature data to support the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) space-layer and other weapon sensor development trade studies. STSS activities provide information for integration of space-based missile tracking (midcourse phase); remote sensor and weapons cuing via Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications (C2BMC); features and discrimination; and hit/impact point assessments. STSS enables early capability assessment to address Warfighter need for highly available early missile tracking from space, providing an operationally suitable means of global persistent surveillance and engagement. Capabilities being assessed for MDA space-layer capabilities include detecting and acquiring missiles; tracking missiles and their deployed objects; performing autonomous acquisition-to-track handover within a satellite; performing tracking handover to a satellite from a ground cue; performing uplink and downlink of mission, health, and status data both directly and via crosslink between two satellites; reporting missile and intercept event to close the fire-control loop; filtering reports to C2BMC; and providing near real-time object data to external users. STSS support to other mission areas improves definition for Enterprise system approaches. The Missile Defense Space Center (MDSC) provides capabilities and infrastructure to support space operations, integration, and testing with the MDS. It provides a multi-level security environment for sensor data management and integration across space and terrestrial sensor data activities. MDSC experiments leverage DoD and national security space capabilities. MDSC activities support analyses, demonstration, and integration of space sensor capabilities into developmental and operational MDA elements. MDSC enables the development of advanced technology and algorithms including fusion of multiple sensor types (radar, overhead persistent infrared, electro-optical, and other emerging sensor technologies). It also supports mission integration of space-based missile tracking, sensor and weapons cuing via C2BMC, features and discrimination, kill, and impact point assessments into the MDS and other non-MDA mission areas, including Space Situational Awareness and battle space characterization. Lessons learned and data gathered from the STSS demonstration satellites program provide valuable information for MDA space-layer modeling and simulation activities in assessing the capability provided by Overhead Persistent Infrared sensors. Based on annual health and status assessment of the STSS satellites, a decision to passivate the STSS satellites in FY 2022 was made. This decision enables a safe conclusion and continued stewardship of space for the extremely successful STSS program which demonstrated the necessity of on-orbit detection and tracking capability for the MDS.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2022
• Source ID: MD12_1206893C_4_0400_PB_2022

Tags

Readers

• Missile Defense Systems.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

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