Space Based Space Surveillance

The Space Based Space Surveillance System is a constellation of satellites of the United States Air Force for acquisition and tracking of other satellites and space debris in Earth orbit one.

Description

The satellites of the SBSS system will serve primarily to improve the monitoring of near-Earth space, since they can, in contrast to the ground-based telescopes of GEODSS network and track independently from time and weather objects. The design is based on the knowledge that you gained in the Midcourse Space Experiment ( SBX ).

The satellites will be manufactured by Boeing, whereby the MIT Lincoln Laboratory and Ball Aerospace have been involved in the development. The first satellite has a launch mass of 1031 kg, its solar cells generate an electrical output of 840 watts. As a sun-synchronous orbit of the orbit is provided at a height of 630 km. The lifetime should be at least 5.5 years, with 7 years operation are being targeted.

As a sensor, a CCD chip with attached optic of visible light is used. This is gimbaled so that the satellite does not have to re-align for each target, which fuel is saved. The chip itself is over its predecessor in the SBX to two times faster and more sensitive in the detection of targets.