KWAJALEIN ATOLL, Marshall
Islands, May 22, 2019
/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force Space Fence system detected the
breakup field from an anti-satellite test conducted by India during a scheduled endurance exercise of
the new space surveillance radar.
As MICROSAT-R was expected to pass through the un-cued
surveillance fence, Space Fence automatically issued a "breakup
alert" indicating there were multiple objects within close
proximity. Space Fence observed a significant amount of debris
tracks surrounding the time of the event crossing labeled as
uncorrelated targets. Long-arc tracking was initiated within the
orbital debris cloud to form accurate initial orbit determinations.
With this information, the system was able to automatically predict
and correlate the next crossing time.
Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) system operators then prepared
for the next crossing by setting up an enhanced sensitivity task
volume ahead of the normal un-cued surveillance fence to increase
the low altitude track duration. Although the Space Fence is
currently in its test phase and not yet operational, the Space
Fence un-cued surveillance coverage showed its unique ability to
observe these events unfolding at different altitudes in real time.
Although the anti-satellite test was conducted at approximately 300
kilometers, the debris cloud extended beyond the original parent
object orbit.
"Although the Space Fence system is still under test, it
continues to demonstrate its advanced capabilities providing
operationally-relevant information in all orbital regimes from Low
Earth Orbit through Geosynchronous Earth Orbit," said Dr.
Rob Smith, vice president and
general manager of Radar and Sensor Systems for Lockheed Martin.
"The criticality of space assets to both national defense and the
world economy cannot be understated. As multiple new mega
constellations consisting of thousands of satellites become a
reality and the space domain continues to become more congested,
the demand for more accurate and timely space situational awareness
data will be of the utmost importance to the warfighter."
The Space Fence system continues to track objects from the
anti-satellite event through the government-led testing phase which
began in early April.
Colonel Stephen Purdy, Director
of the Space Superiority Systems Directorate, Space and Missile
Systems Center, Los Angeles Air
Force Base, who oversees the Space Fence program said, "Space Fence
is already proving itself as a capable system even before becoming
operational. The Indian test showcased Space Fence's capabilities
in a real-world event. The system was able to quickly respond to a
highly dynamic situation providing critical data. Space Fence is
the latest in a long line of capabilities we are collectively
bringing to the warfighter as we continue to build out space
capabilities for the United
States."
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a
global security and aerospace company that employs approximately
105,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the
research, design, development, manufacture, integration and
sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and
services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin