Air Force Space Surveillance System
From Free net encyclopedia
The Air Force Space Surveillance System is a multistatic radar system that detects orbital objects passing over America. It is a component of the US space surveillance network, and is claimed to be able to detect objects as small as 10cm (four inches) at heights up to 30,000 km (15,000 nautical miles.) Although formerly operated by the U.S. Navy, command passed to the Air Force 20th Space Control Squadron on October_1, 2004.
The operation's headquarters are at Dahlgren, Virginia, while radar stations are spread out across the continental United States at roughly the level of the 33rd parallel north. The master transmitter is at Lake Kickapoo, Texas, and there are additional transmitters at Gila River, Arizona, and Jordan Lake, Alabama. There are 6 receiving stations: San Diego, California; Elephant Butte, New Mexico; Red River, Arkansas; Silver Lake, Mississippi; Hawkinsville, Georgia; and Tattnall, Georgia.
External links
- US Naval Space Command Space Surveillance System at the FAS website
- Navy Transfers Space Surveillance Mission to Air Force from NAVY.mil
- Rural site part of USA's oldest sat-tracking system from USA Today
- Corona Space Surveillance Centre (CSSC) The first dedicated space surveillance centre in Europe.