Project Space Track

Project Space Track was a research and development project of the <a href="/facts/US_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">US Air Force</a>, to create a <a href="/facts/Tracking_system/4fKPC7Fp">tracking system</a> for all <a href="/facts/Artificial_satellites/PTX8c68t">artificial satellites</a> of the <a href="/facts/Earth/HLLmDfj0">Earth</a> and <a href="/facts/Space_probe/AeWRBITP">space probes</a>, domestic and foreign.
Project Space Track was started in 1957 at the <a href="/facts/Air_Force_Research_Laboratory/QGBMMKKa">Air Force Research Laboratory</a> at Laurence G. Hanscom Field, now <a href="/facts/Hanscom_Air_Force_Base/Gu3kYK3d">Hanscom Air Force Base</a>, in <a href="/facts/Bedford%2c_Massachusetts/jeVLY8Cu">Bedford, Massachusetts</a> shortly after the launch of <a href="/facts/Sputnik_I/GQ5KLlNC">Sputnik I</a>. Observations were obtained from some 150 sensors worldwide by 1960 and regular orbital predictions were issued to the sensors and interested parties.
Space Track was the only organization that used observations from all types of sources: radar, optical, radio, and visual. All unclassified observations were shared with the <a href="/facts/Smithsonian_Astrophysical_Observatory/1Bz2ApPt">Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory</a>. In 1961, the system was declared operational and assigned to the new <a href="/facts/1st_Aerospace_Surveillance_and_Control_Squadron/rgMKFgvd">1st Aerospace Surveillance and Control Squadron</a> until 1976, as part of <a href="/facts/NORAD/uQgYBjz4">NORAD</a>'s <a href="/facts/Space_Detection_and_Tracking_System/xIRhqEr2">Space Detection and Tracking System</a> (SPADATS).

Project Space Track open-in-new

Project Space Track