Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program
Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program(GSSAP) orHornetis a class of United Statesspy satellites
The first two GSSAP spacecraft were launched in 2014, and a further two was launched on 19 August 2016 (USA-270 and USA-271). The first two were built byOrbital Sciences Corporation;their capabilities and development and construction budgets are classified. They operate in "near-geosynchronous orbit",[1][2]The first launch was scheduled for 23 July 2014 aboard aUnited Launch AllianceDelta IVlaunch vehicle.[3]
Even during the testing process these satellites were pressed into early service to fulfill critical needs.[4]
On 12 September 2017, the third and fourth satellites were declared operational.[5]
Two more satellites (GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6) have been successfully launched on 21 January 2022 by aAtlas Vlaunch vehicle.[6]USA-270 approached two Chinese satellites in GEO to examine them more closely.[7]In 2023, Chinese researchers reported having observed 13 other instances where US satellites approached Chinese ones.[8]
In August 2023 theSpace Systems Commandannounced the retirement of the GSSAP-2 satellite, the first of the constellation to be decommissioned, and its subsequent transfer into a graveyard orbit. Moreover, it revealed that two more satellites have been ordered toNorthrop Grummanto keep up with the demand for GSSAP assets.[9]The launches of the new satellites are planned for 2024 and 2027 respectively, with the spacecraft being the first of the constellation not to be launched in pairs.[10]
References
[edit]- ^Neighborhood watch in space, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 4 August 2014, p.12
- ^Butler, Amy (21 February 2014)."USAF Reveals Classified, New Spy Satellite".Aviation Week & Sapce Technology. Archived fromthe originalon 26 February 2014.Retrieved21 February2014.
- ^Harper, Jon (22 July 2014)."Air Force launching satellites to spy on other satellites".stripes.Stars and Stripes.Retrieved22 July2014.
- ^Gruss, Mike (18 September 2015)."Space Surveillance Sats Pressed into Early Service".spacenews.SpaceNews.Retrieved18 September2015.
- ^Espinosa, Shellie-Anne (13 September 2017)."Two new satellites now operational, expand U.S. space situational awareness".afspc.af.mil.Air Force Space Command Public Affairs.Retrieved15 September2017.This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.
- ^Graham, William (21 January 2022)."ULA's Atlas V launches satellite-inspection mission for Space Force".NASASpaceFlight.Retrieved22 January2022.
- ^Werner, Debra (2022-06-16)."An In-Orbit Game of Cat and Mouse: Close approaches prompt calls for communications and norms".SpaceNews.
- ^Tamim, Baba (2023-05-07)."US conducted 14 spy missions on China's satellites in 2 years, claims Chinese study".interestingengineering.
- ^Erwin, Sandra (15 August 2023)."U.S. deactivates GSSAP surveillance satellite, two new ones in the works".Retrieved18 August2023.
- ^Hadley, Greg (17 August 2023)."Space Force Deactivates One Space Surveillance Satellite, Sets Plans for Two More".Air & Space Forces Magazine.Retrieved18 August2023.