Space Based Space Surveillance
Encyclopedia
The Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system is a planned constellation of satellite
s and supporting ground infrastructure that will improve the ability of the United States Department of Defense
(DoD) to detect and track space objects in orbit
around the Earth. The primary SBSS contractor, Boeing
, characterizes some orbiting space objects as, "Potential future threats to the United States' space assets."
The SBSS development work is being conducted in coordination with the Space Situational Awareness Group in the Space Superiority Systems Wing
of the United States Air Force
. The commander of the Space Situational Awareness Group believes the SBSS satellite operations center, "Will transform Space Situational Awareness by providing a gateway to a responsive, taskable sensor. This capability is key to enabling the event-driven operations concept of the future."
rocket on September 25, 2010 . Originally, the launch was scheduled for December 2008 but was rescheduled for Spring of 2009, and again delayed until 22 Oct 2009. The launch delays were caused by problems with the booster, and not the satellite itself. A launch expected for July 8, 2010 was also postponed.. The program cost $823 million, including satellite, payload, launch, and ground support. (The satellite and payload contracts to Ball Aerospace are approximately 40% of the total.) It is designed to examine every spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit at least once a day.
The SBSS pathfinder satellite has a 30 cm telescope on a two axis gimbal with a 2.4 megapixel image sensor and has a projected mission duration of five and a half years.
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s and supporting ground infrastructure that will improve the ability of the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD) to detect and track space objects in orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
around the Earth. The primary SBSS contractor, Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
, characterizes some orbiting space objects as, "Potential future threats to the United States' space assets."
The SBSS development work is being conducted in coordination with the Space Situational Awareness Group in the Space Superiority Systems Wing
Space Superiority Systems Wing
The Space Superiority Systems Wing at Los Angeles Air Force Base includes the "Space Situational Awareness Group" and the "Counterspace Group".-Mission:...
of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. The commander of the Space Situational Awareness Group believes the SBSS satellite operations center, "Will transform Space Situational Awareness by providing a gateway to a responsive, taskable sensor. This capability is key to enabling the event-driven operations concept of the future."
Pathfinder satellite
The first "pathfinder" satellite of the SBSS system was successfully placed into orbit onboard a Minotaur IVMinotaur IV
Minotaur IV, also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK is an active expendable launch system derived from the Peacekeeper missile. It is operated by Orbital Sciences Corporation, and made its maiden flight on 22 April 2010, carrying the HTV-2a Hypersonic Test Vehicle...
rocket on September 25, 2010 . Originally, the launch was scheduled for December 2008 but was rescheduled for Spring of 2009, and again delayed until 22 Oct 2009. The launch delays were caused by problems with the booster, and not the satellite itself. A launch expected for July 8, 2010 was also postponed.. The program cost $823 million, including satellite, payload, launch, and ground support. (The satellite and payload contracts to Ball Aerospace are approximately 40% of the total.) It is designed to examine every spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit at least once a day.
The SBSS pathfinder satellite has a 30 cm telescope on a two axis gimbal with a 2.4 megapixel image sensor and has a projected mission duration of five and a half years.