Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness program upgrades satellites to enhance surveillance, awareness

March 27, 2020
The ground system upgrade also will be important as the Space Force expands the constellation later this year.

SCHRIEVER AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – The 1st Space Operations Squadron has completed a major overhaul of the ground system for the U.S. military’s Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness surveillance program, which uses satellites to collect space situational awareness data about other objects on orbit. C4ISRnet reports. Continue reading original article

The Military & Aerospace Electronics take:

27 March 2020 -- The squadron first began working on a software overhaul for the GSSAP ground system in 2017. A trial period was completed in December 2019, and SOPS completed operational acceptance Feb. 12.

This was one of the most significant upgrades to the system since it became operational in 2015. The ground system upgrade also will be important as the Space Force expands the constellation later this year.

The first two satellites in the constellation launched in 2014, with two more satellites joining them on orbit in 2016. The Space Force is to launch the fifth and sixth GSSAP satellites this fall on an Atlas V rocket.

Related: L3Harris to sustain space electro-optical surveillance systems that track high-altitude satellites

Related: National Reconnaissance Office lets two important remote sensing contracts to improve satellite surveillance

Related: DARPA asks industry to develop small, secure military satellites to operate in low-Earth orbit (LEO)

John Keller, chief editor
Military & Aerospace Electronics

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