GSSAP: GEOSYNCHRONOUS SPACE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS PROGRAM Gen William L.Shelton, retiring head of Air Force Space Command announced some details of this previously classified program back in March of this year. Just in case the 23 July launch date was not on your radar, feel free to read up. This topic is so important that the US Air Force bumped the inaugural blastoff of NASA’s highly anticipated Orion pathfinder manned capsule from September to December 2014. As other nations show their commitment in investing in systems capable of harming our satellites, we are committed to investing in space surveillance assets like GSSAP that will directly enable safe operations, protect our spacecraft, and indirectly enable a range of decisive responses that will enable counterspace threats ineffective, said Gen Shelton. The Air Force says the satellites will operate in a near-geosynchronous orbit regime and will have a clear, unobstructed and distinct vantage point for viewing resident space objects orbiting earth in a near-geosynchronous orbit without the disruption of weather or atmosphere that can limit ground-based systems. GSSAP satellites will support U.S. Strategic Command space surveillance operations as a dedicated Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensor. GSSAP satellites will collect space situational awareness data allowing for more accurate tracking and characterization of man-made orbiting objects. It will have a clear, unobstructed and distinct vantage point for viewing resident space objects orbiting earth in a near-geosynchronous orbit without the disruption of weather or atmosphere that can limit ground-based systems. Data from GSSAP will uniquely contribute to timely and accurate orbital predictions, enhancing our knowledge of the geosynchronous orbit environment, and further enabling space flight safety to include satellite collision avoidance. GSSAP satellites will communicate information through the world-wide Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN) ground stations, then to Schriever Air Force Base, CO where satellite operators of the 1st Space Operations Squadron (1 SOPS), 50th Space Wing, will oversee day-to-day command and control operations. GSSAP satellites are projected to launch aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta IV M+ (4,2) booster configuration from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL on July 23, 2014.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Jul 2014 20:56:02 +0000
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