This Briefing Is Unclassified UNCLASSIFED Space Surveillance - ' I Ii 1i f - - - - - - - - - - -- - - -- - - - -•• 't- Ill ' • Surveillance and cataloging of space objects is a high priority mission for Air Force Space Command • Both civil and military applications • Collision warnings are an important output • Includes cataloging and orbit predictions • Regularly published element sets • Modern space conditions demand ever increasing accuracy of both measurement and prediction • Current standards are in need of revision 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 2 UNCLASSIFED Sensors and Command and Control C2 -' li - - - - - - - - - - - - -- l'l °D t - -- - - - •• I ll • Three types of sensors that support the SSN • Dedicated Space Surveillance is primary mission • Collateral Space Surveillance is secondary or tertiary mission • Contributing Non USSPACECOM sensors under contract to support space surveillance • There are two major C2 centers that manage the SSN • Air Force Space Control Center AFSSC in CMAS CO • Primary C2 center • Naval Space Control Center NSCC in Dahlgren VA • Equivalent backup to the AFSSC 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 4 UNCLASSIFED SSN Sensors and C2 Center Locations - - - - - -•• Ill _ Collateral Sensors _ Contributlng SensoTS _ Dedicated Sensors Kaena P o i n - t Maui GEODSS ti MatllMSSS 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 3 UNCLASSIFED - J·--------------------- MSXISBV Mission e8 'ii t -t 'IJ •• 1 11 • Primary Mission - Space Surveillance •Conduct space surveillance from space •Surveillance of entire geosynchronous belt • Assured access to objects of military interest 1 23101 UNCLASSIFIED s UNCLASSIFED MSX SB V Description l' t -A j - rJ 'b - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • - - - - - -•• Ill • Strengths of space-based sensors • Access to all space • No weather outages • Reduced dependence on foreign-based sites • Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration ACTD • Oct 1997 to Sep 00 • Now making -400 observations day • Contributing sensor to Space Surveillance Network SSN • Significant impact on SSN De-ep Space DS pWfforfrffifdeD s UNCLASSIFED 3 7 Meter Telescope 8 Meter Telesco i e 1 6 Meter·Telescope -· 6tMeterr Telescope - - - -- 1 2 Meter Telescope _ _ _ J J- · ' r-'t •J • Located on Maui Hawaii - Consists of the 3 7 1 6 1 2 8 and 6 meter telescopes • Part of the Maui Space Surveillance Complex MSSC which includes Maui GEODSS • MSSS host and mission responsibilities to be transferred from AFSPC to Air Force Research Laboratory AFRL Oct 00 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 1 UNCLASSIFED 3 7 Meter Mission and Description 1 1111 t • - - - - - -•• A rlf f · - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Ill tYl'i 't • Dedicated Electro-Optical E-0 telescope with the following major features • Adaptive Optics Imaging System provides high resolution imaging and metric data on Near Earth NE objects • Longwave Infrared LWIR sensor provides LWIR images temperature maps and metric data on NE objects • Radiometric photometric sensor provides visible Midwave Infrared MWIR LWIR and signature temperature data on NE Deep Space DS objects • System supports Space Intelligence through high resolution E-O SOI data 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED s UNCLASSIFED MOSS Description · ' - - - - - - - - - • IJ l ' i - f • - - - • - - - - - -•• Ill MOSS is an Electro-Optical E-O surveillance system • Located on Moron Air Base Spain • • Operational E-O prototype -- intended to be a gap filler • Operates in concert with GEODSS • Operations performed in 20' X 8' van • Telescope has a nominal aperture of 22 inches and a focal length of 51 inches • Houses a 1024 X 1024 Massachusetts MOSS Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory MIT LL Charge Couple Device CCD focal plane array 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 9 UNCLASSIFED GEODSS Mission - - - - - - -- - - - ------••• Det 2 18 SPSS II Det 3 18 SPSS GEODSS Telescopes Det 1 18 SPSS • Primary Space Surveillance • Supports AFSPC as a dedicated Deep Space DS sensor • GEODSS brings together the telescope low-light-level television cameras and computers -- three proven technologies 1123101 UNCLASSIFIED 10 UNCLASSIFED I £li 1 'p - ri ' GEODSS Description •• - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -•• - - - - Ill • Each site has three telescopes two main and one auxiliary • Diego Garcia is exception with three mains • Maui will have 3 mains Oct 00 • Socorro will have 3 mains Oct 01 • Main Telescopes have 40-inch aperture and 2° field of view • Auxiliary Telescopes have 15-inch aperture and 6° FOV • Operates at night • Cloud cover inhibits operation • Not a severe problem at Socorro or Diego Garcia 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 11 UNCLASSIFED GLOB US II Mission - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -•• Ill • Primary Space Surveillance • GLOBUS II is expected to track 100 Deep Space DS objects per day • Expected to provide wideband Space Object Identification SOI imagery data on 3 DS objects per day • Numbers are based on studies not actual data 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 12 UNCLASSIFED - 1111------------------- I GLOBUS II Description •• • lt j l t ' I J• - t-· l b • Globus II is a 27 meter mechanical tracker radar • Covers 0-360° in azimuth 0-90° in elevation and out to geostationary orbit in range 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 13 UNCLASSIFED LSSC Mission _'f elf- '·l• - - - - - - - - -- -- - - -• - - - - - -•• 6'1'j 'r Ill Haystack Radar • Primary Research and Development R D of Space Surveillance techniques • Secondary Supports AFSPC as a contributing sensors • Millstone Hill Radar -- Near Earth NE Deep Space DS • Haystack Radar -- NE DS • Haystack Auxiliary HAX -- NE Radar 1123101 UNCLASSIFIED 14 UNCLASSIFED • Haystack is a mechanical tracker • Only sensor in the SSN capable of imaging NE and DS objects • Provides images for Mission Payload Assessment MPA and satellite status determination • High resolution in NE 25 cm • All weather day night capability • Conducts measurements of space debris to sizes of 1 cm NASA • NASA debris campaign • Provides unique support for satellite anomaly resolution Haystack Radar 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 1s UNCLASSIFED Millstone Hill Radar MHR Description - - - l I - - - - - - p 't' l -c 'i - •• Ill ' • MHR is a mechanical tracker • Built as a BMEWS prototype • First radar to track Sputnik 1957 • High power sensitive radar that routinely tracks DS satellites rocket bodies and debris in the Geo belt • High precision radar generates highly accurate orbital data • Provides Geo collision avoidance data to some commercial entities via Cooperative Research Development Agreement CRDA Millstone Hill Radar 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 1s UNCLASSIFED BMEWS Mission - - - - - - - -•• Thule AB Greenland Ill • Primary Missile Warning • Provides ballistic missile warning and attack assessment of a ballistic missile raid against CONUS Alaska and Southern Canada • Secondary Space Surveillance • Supports SSN as collateral sensors 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 11 UNCLASSIFED ·• - 1- ·1 • - - - - - - - - - •- ' Clear Mission _ A fl' - - - - - •• Ill 6'1'1 'i C • Primary Mission Provide tactical warning and attack assessment of a ballistic missile attack against CONUS and southern Canada • Secondary Mission Support Space Surveillance as collateral mission 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 1a UNCLASSIFED Fylingdales Mission ---•------••• II ---· - - - - Fylingdales • Primary Mission Provides warning of an IRBM MRBM or SLBM against UK and Western Europe • Secondary Mission Provides warning of an ICBM SLBM attack against CONUS • Tertiary Mission Space Surveillance as collateral mission 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 19 UNCLASSIFED • Primary Mission Provides tactical warning and attack assessment of SLBM and ICBM attacks against CONUS and Canada • Secondary Mission Supports Space Surveillance as collateral mission 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 20 UNCLASSIFED Cavalier Mission t _ 1 11111 · - • - - - -- - • • Ill --------------- - -'e lfl 9 r • Primary Missile Warning • Provides Warning and Attack Characterization of ICBM SLBM attack against the CONUS and Southern Canada • Secondary Space Surveillance • Supports SSN as a collateral sensor 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 21 UNCLASSIFED Eglin Mission - - - - • • - - - -- - - -•• Ill • Primary Mission Spacetrack as dedicated sensor •Tracks 4 257 NE and 357 DS objects per day per Jan 00 Space Surveillance Analysis Tool SSPAT 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 22 UNCLASSIFED Eglin Description - - - - - - - - - - -•• Ill I Transmitter· Receiver ·--- JI • One of a kind phased array radar with a separate transmitter and receiver face • Covers 120° in azimuth and in excess of 22 000 NM in range • Has capability to track small objects • Only dedicated space surveillance phased array radar 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 23 UNCLASSIFED MMW Description - - - - - -•• Ill • MilliMeter Wave MMW Radar • Used exclusively for SOI collection • Highest Resolution Imaging radar in Space Surveillance Network SSN • 12-25 cm resolution • Missions supported • Imaging of new launches • Satellite anomaly resolution 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 24 UNCLASSIFED NAVSPACE Fence Mission - - • • - - - • • - - - • - - -- - -•• I ll NAVSPACE Fence • Primary Space Surveillance • Provides up to date satellite orbital elements to Fleet and Fleet Marine forces • Supports US Space Command as part of nation's worldwide Space Surveillance Network 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 2s UNCLASSIFED NA VSPA CE Fence Description NAVSPACE Fence Sensor Locations - - - - - -•• ·---• • Hsval Space Con1l'OI Center 0 ehl J eri Receiver Hawkinsville _ Transmitter Ill • Comprised of three transmitters and six receivers located along the 33rd parallel • Transmits a continuous electronic fence straight up into space • Relays unknown detections to Eglin Phased Array for further refined processing 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 2s UNCLASSIFED • Both Beale and Cape Cod are dual face Solid State Phased Array Radars SSPAR • Both radars cover 240° in azimuth and in excess of 2 800 NM in range • At extreme range both radars can detect objects the size of an automobile - smaller at closer ranges 7 SWS Beale AFB CA 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 21 UNCLASSIFED Range Radar Mission - -• - - - - - - •• Ill • Primary Range Support • Supports test and evaluation of developmental and operational ICBMs space launch vehicles and aeronautical development programs • Secondary Space Surveillance 1 23 01 • Support of SSN as collateral Near Earth NE seo 1 SSIFIED 2s UNCLASSIFED Shemya Mission - - -- - -•• I ll Cobra Dane Radar • Primary Intelligence • Supports Treaty Verification of Soviet ICBM SLBMs • Secondary Space Surveillance • Supports SSN on limited basis • Highly valuable for tracking priority events 1123101 UNCLASSIFIED 29 UNCLASSIFED Shemya Description - - - -• • - - - - -- - - •• _c_o_b_ra_D_a_n_e _R_ad_a_r lL-- - - -4j I ll • ••• j • Located on Shemya Island Alaska • Cobra Dane is a single face Phased Array radar originally designed to monitor Soviet ICBM SLBM tests • Discontinued MW and Space Surveillance in 1994 • Recommissioned as a Space Surveillance asset in 1999 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 30 UNCLASSIFED Near Earth Tracking Percentages - - -- - -•• Others 0 2% Ill Range Radars BMEWS 1 8% Cavalier 24% 17 1% PAVE PAWS 12 2% Shemya 2 4% Eglin 42 3° o Note Does not include NAVSPACE Detection Fence 1 23 01 Source Jan 00 SSPAT data UNCLASSIFIED 31 UNCLASSIFED Deep Space Tracking Percentages Cavalier Others 1 8% LSSC 2 1% MSSS 6 2% 1rlo I - - - - - -•• Ill Eglin 22 3% MOSS 6 8% GEODSS 32 9° o BMEWS Kwajalein 2 1% PAVE PAWS 4 5% 5 5% Note Does not include NAVSPACE Detection Fence 1 23 01 MSX SBV 8 1% DSTS 6 6° o Source Jan 00 SSPAT data UNCLASSIFIED 32 UNCLASSIFED Geosynchronous Tracking Percentages - l ' • - - - - - -•• --------------- o 1i t 1 'i MSX SBV 17 6 % Others 2 2 % Ill DSTS 10 2 % MSSS 8 6 % 8 7 % GEODSS Kwajalein 5 6 % 43 9 % Note Does not include NAVSPACE Detection Fence 1 23 01 Source Jan 00 SSPAT data UNCLASSIFIED 33 UNCLASSIFED Current Catalog l ' i ii'i c - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -•• A i I ll Satellites - 2671 Space Probes - 90 Debris - 6096 Total - 8927 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 34 UNCLASSIFED Position estimates - -t _-'Ii liJt1 b c t- · - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -•• l A Ill • Positions are calculated from a model of orbital motion • Orbital perturbations are included • General perturbations • average atmosphere 3-body gravity models • J2 and J3 components of gravity model • Special perturbations • General detailed atmosphere better solar • Element sets are generated to predict future motion • Include average motion and time derivatives • Production delay may be 3-4 days • Format based on 80 column IBM card 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 3s UNCLASSIFED 1 1 1 111111------------------- 1 Element sets and accuracy ft fOJr - •• • r - liJti 'r • Useful in calculating positions to ---1 km accuracy • Not all parameters are explicit • Major axis is calculated from other parameters • e g revs per day and eccentricity • Least squares analysis sometimes replaces physics • Parameters frequently derived from measurements on other satellites • Some quantities such as atmosphere and solar effects are not directly measured • Results are based on analysis • Some sensors have systematic errors 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 3s UNCLASSIFED f '-------------------- Calibration Satellites 'f_ 1 c l'ii't c i'' •• 111 • Satellites with known mass area etc are used to calibrate the system • Laser ranging is employed for satellites with corner cubes • Ajisai EGP Starlette ERS-1 ERS-2 Topex Poseidon • SLR measurements to cm accuracy 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 31 UNCLASSIFED -l· -------------------- Requirements for measurement accuracy t -t- -'l 1'1i c'1' •• Ill • Consider quantities such as velocity based on radius measurement • Derive required accuracy from simple orbital considerations • Major errors are in sensors and in atmosphere • Errors in calculated positions should be -1 meter for future applications 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 3a UNCLASSIFED - - - - - -•• Ill Distance travelled by a satellite at 500 km 10 10 1-------- -- -- --- - ----t--t- - ------ ----- --- ----- -- - - -t v 7 62 km s e•o9 - -- _ C U iC 108 - - I '-- - - - - C 0 cw ----· · -a - - - -- T N 107 L - - -- L -- - L - JL L L L jll-L-4 5 10 10 - - - ____ _____ __ _ 6 10 Time after obs s 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 39 UNCLASSIFED Air density contributes to error 1 - 1 _ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -• 'h • c Ytj ti l' ll u - - - - - -•• Ill Position error as a function of density error 0 02 0 04 0 06 0 08 0 1 Average relative density error 1 23 01 0 12 UNCLASSIFIED 40 UNCLASSIFED A --------------- Position error after a given delay time • - - - - - -•• l'it t 0- c l'f 'i c 111 Data 3 - 500 -- ---- - - --- -- --- - ---- - ---- - --- - - --- ---- -- - _ ---t E _ _ 0 _ _ 3 da dela I i a C 000 0 1 - - -- - - - 1 - - - - - - - -- - 1 · ··t i 0 C J U _ ay---·- 500 ' 'i' en C 0 cc 0 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 radius measurement error m 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 41 UNCLASSIFED _ t Error grows rapidly as a function of measurement error tt•-------------- • - - - - - -•• ' c Yl'i 'ii c t- 111 Data 3 e 40 1-- -•· a C 0 ·-t0n 30 ·- 20 --··· ·-· - -1-- - - - J ·•·· ··· _ _ C • ·····••1••· - I i 0 __ ______ __ _____ __ ____ __ _____ ______ ____ ______ __ ______ ___ ___ __ _____ ______ _ 0 0 5 1 2 1 5 radius measurement error m 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 42 UNCLASSIFED Error in range measurement is important - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -• - - - - - - r 6'fi b Jl- 1' c •• II Velocity error resulting from position error - 0 0 0 6 --r---- -- -------r---- -- -------r----- -- ------r----- -- ------r----- -- ------r----- ---r---r----r---r----r 0 005 1---- - - 1 - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - __ _ _ -i '' I s 0 004 - ·····-········-·······-···J---J----t----- r- - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------- _'___ _ ----t--- 0 a 0 003 ·-0 - 0 002 1-- - -1- - a 0 001 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 radius error m 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 43 uNcLAssiFEo Some errors decrease with successive measurements 1 1 1 ' 1111------------------- III - -· ' •• A a '·'i' -c 8 1i'i • Element sets also include first and second derivatives of mean motion • Drag coefficient is determined but atmosphere is still an issue • How inaccurate are the initial measurements • SLR range error is insignificant • Radar measurements may have significant error • Systematic range • Ionosphere and troposphere • Elevation 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 44 UNCLASSIFED Range residuals from Eglin Observations - -- - - -•• fl t 'f l'j 'ii C 0 2 •• • • I • - - -· ' •• • •• • • ••• •• • • _ • E 0 1 - • • • •• • • • •• • Ill • • I- 0 II- w Q 0 ias 0 0 C cu 0 •• - • • ' • _ •• • •••• •• • -0 1 • • • • -0 2 0 10 20 • • 30 • • 40 • • •• • • • • • • • • 50 60 Elevation Angle deg 1 23 01 70 80 9 UNCLASSIFIED 45 UNCLASSIFED Special perturbation results - t _ A ti 'l l'j 't £ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -•• Ill • Calculate errors as a function of time 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 46 UNCLASSIFED a New methods improve accuracy 111111 · - - - - - - -•• Starlette Calibration Tasking - Ill R ad la I B ' 0 0· 1 1 0 D1· D Iii 0 - t i g II ' g o ue C - I u V • Cl 0- 001 • 0 0 0 - 0 0 0 5 O DU i • • e a c • Eii257ZZ • - O It 11 v • U rt 111 t la II tin g A Tr1 k WtlG·htJ1 g •• 0 D3 -0 Q O2 r u W •l h tl1 g with N IW afu S l m IM 1td1I N HI W t tQh11 ni 0 0 D1 D 0 Q0 0 H4 D 1 DAY 2 ft 0 Mlnutt 1 23 01 hn 3 DAYS UNCLASSIFIED 47 UNCLASSIFED Improved but not yet adequate - - - - - -•• In-Track E U 0 o7 u o 0 e u Ill C O 0 5 - 0 u O 0 4 'Cl e Cl 0 0 3 0 0 2 --'----------J 0 01 __ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1440 28 8 0 0 0 20 M In u te s 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED 48 UNCLASSIFED Crosstrack accuracy improved - - - - - -•• Ill C ro ss -T rac k E I • I 0 0 2 Z 0 0 2 t 0 0 2 0 Q 0 o ta c 0 O Q 18 D 0 t7 - u ·• 0 0 l 5 lL 013 'ti D D t 8 0 0 t 4 0 0 1 2 •0 t I 0 o 1 0 A 11 _ l r - _ _ 0 IHO r----- l J ' Jlf- ll l -'1 11 ll A l l ll 'l ll ll ll ll _ U 2 98 0 320 MlnUt'- 1 23 D1 UNCLASSIFIED 49 UNCLASSIFED observations - - - - - -•• Ill • Improved calculational techniques have improved accuracy significantly • Accuracy is still inadequate for 21st century applications • E g autonomous docking and servicing • Collision avoidance for robotic vehicles • SLR measurements improve ranging accuracy 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED so UNCLASSIFED Suggestions personal not official ----· - - - - - -•• Ill • Add laser ranging measurements at selected sites • SLR sites are inexpensive • Enough real estate exists at many sites for two SLR systems • Eglin • Clear • Thule • Socorro • Increase element set update rate • Set goal of 1 meter prediction accuracy at end of 24 hours 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED s1 UNCLASSIFED Conclusions - - - - - - • •---------••• II • Improvements in orbit predictive capability since 1997 are striking • Work is ongoing • Reentry point and time are still issues • Number of observations is adequate • Accuracy should be improved 1 23 01 UNCLASSIFIED s2