United States Space Surveillance Network

The United States Space Surveillance Network (SSN) detects, tracks, catalogs and identifies artificial objects <a href="/facts/Geocentric_orbit/geC4BF1x">orbiting Earth</a>, e.g. active/inactive <a href="/facts/Satellite/PTX8c68t">satellites</a>, spent <a href="/facts/Rocket/b6j4keIl">rocket</a> bodies, or <a href="/facts/Space_debris/X7YSKlXl">fragmentation debris</a>. The system is the responsibility of <a href="/facts/United_States_Space_Command/uDfQjTQa">United States Space Command</a> and operated by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Space_Force/bWlsxC5D">United States Space Force</a> and its functions are:

<ul><li>Predict when and where a <a href="/facts/Orbital_decay/c9rj3aK6">decaying space object</a> will <a href="/facts/Atmospheric_entry/p7TMk9sa">re-enter</a> the <a href="/facts/Earth%2527s_atmosphere/FV97Am25">Earth's atmosphere</a>;</li>
<li>Prevent a returning space object, which to <a href="/facts/Radar/jk9BTbFA">radar</a> looks like a missile, from triggering a <a href="/facts/False_alarm/5T2YYusw">false alarm</a> in missile-attack warning sensors of the U.S. and other countries;</li>
<li>Chart the present position of space objects and plot their anticipated orbital paths;</li>
<li>Detect new artificial objects in space;</li>
<li>Correctly map objects traveling in <a href="/facts/Geocentric_orbit/geC4BF1x">Earth orbit</a>;</li>
<li>Produce a running catalog of artificial space objects;</li>
<li>Determine ownership of a re-entering space object;</li>
<li></li></ul>
The Space Surveillance Network includes dedicated, collateral, and contributing electro-optical, passive radio frequency (RF) and radar sensors. It provides space object cataloging and identification, satellite attack warning, timely notification to U.S. forces of satellite fly-over, <a href="/facts/Militarisation_of_space/93ajBK7v">space treaty</a> monitoring, and scientific and <a href="/facts/Technical_intelligence/cAIwnrCd">technical intelligence</a> gathering. The continued increase in satellite and orbital debris populations, as well as the increasing diversity in launch trajectories, non-standard orbits, and geosynchronous altitudes, necessitates continued modernization of the SSN to meet existing and future requirements and ensure their cost-effective supportability.
SPACETRACK also developed the systems interfaces necessary for the command and control, targeting, and damage assessment of a potential future U.S. <a href="/facts/Anti-satellite_weapon/vd3acxFt">anti-satellite weapon</a> (ASAT) system. There is an Image Information Processing Center and Supercomputing facility at the <a href="/facts/Air_Force_Maui_Optical_Station/GwCVGucU">Air Force Maui Optical Station</a> (AMOS).

United States Space Surveillance Network open-in-new

United States Space Surveillance Network