Space Security Index

Space Security 2011
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in the Wideband Global Satellite Constellation to the JSpOC in California in real time. 35
Historically, the operational status of satellites has only been known by its satellite operators.
e ability to transmit status information to the JSpOC in California, where it can be
integrated with other satellite constellations and space surveillance data, constitutes a
signicant improvement in SSA for the U.S. military.
In October, Raytheon announced that it had won a $3-million contract to develop a
prototype sensor architecture that would integrate Air Force Space Command space
surveillance sensors and MDA sensors into a single sensor network. 36 Currently, those
missions have two dierent networks of sensors, most of which cannot be linked to the
other network. Integrating the networks would allow for less replication of capabilities and
improve both SSA and the ability to track and intercept ballistic missiles.
In a keynote speech at the USSTRATCOM Strategic Space Symposium in Omaha, Nebraska,
in November, Lieutenant General Larry James said that work continued on development of
the JSpOC Mission System (JMS) to attain “21st century command and control capability,”
but Phase 1 deployment has been postponed from Spring 2010 to Spring 2011. e JMS
is slated to replace the current, outdated SPADOC 4C and CAVENET computer systems
used in the JSpOC for SSA. e FY2011 DOD Budget Proposal includes $132-million for
the JMS and estimates almost $670-million for the program through FY2015. 37 James also
said that work is proceeding on integrating space with cyber and intelligence capabilities. In
total, the FY2011 budget proposal request for SSA programs is $426-million, a signicant
increase over the $238-million spent in FY2010. 38
2010 Development
Australia funds space debris tracking research and initiates SSA partnership with U.S.
In July, Australian company Electro Optic Systems was awarded a $4-million grant from the
Australian Space Research Program to develop a laser-based space debris tracking system. 39
It is working with an international consortium that includes institutions in the U.S. and
Germany. e consortium’s goal is to develop a system to automatically track space debris
much more accurately than is currently possible with ground-based radars, which are the
primary means to track data for small objects in LEO. 40 e consortium hopes the project
will lead to a network of lasers around the world to track space debris.
In November, the U.S. government announced a partnership with Australia to improve SSA
capabilities. 41 A Fact Sheet released by the Australian government said that the partnership
was a result of the initiatives put forward in Australia’s 2008 Defence White Paper, which
emphasized the need for improved SSA. 42 e Fact Sheet also states that the partnership
includes joint U.S.-Australian eorts to use existing sites in Western Australia for SSA,
sharing of SSA information, and collaboration on science and technology. 43 It is likely that
one of the three S-Band Space Fence sites will be located in Western Australia to provide
much-needed Southern Hemisphere coverage for the U.S. SSN.
Space Security Impact
e increase in U.S. SSA capabilities, especially tracking and cataloging of objects smaller
than 10 cm, signicantly improves space security e conjunction warnings issued by the
U.S. military have had a signicant positive impact on spacecraft operations worldwide,
allowing all operators to protect their spacecraft from collisions with space debris. However,
the slow progress on SSA data sharing with other countries and satellite operators impedes
further improvement for both U.S. SSA and space security.