Detecting and tracking space debris is an important part of Space Surveillance. These objects could pose a danger to US military and commercial satellites. Space Fence has been designed to detect and track them. It is also designed to help prevent collisions in near-Earth orbit. Space Fence uses ground-based S-band radar to locate space objects in low, medium, and geosynchronous orbits. The radar can detect objects as small as 10 centimeters in space. It can detect breaksups and maneuvers. Space Fence provides timely orbital information to Space Fence about possible threats. This allows Space Fence to prevent future collisions.
Space Surveillance Radar will soon be replaced by an S-band radar. The new system will allow for greater tracking of objects and improve surveillance accuracy. It will also be able to predict space-based collisions more accurately. It is also intended to give an early warning of potential dangers to military and commercial satellite systems. It can provide orbital information that is accurate about possible threats, including launches, breakups, or maneuvers. It will be able to track hundreds of thousand of objects in orbit and prevent collisions with space-based infrastructure.
The Space Surveillance Network, which was created in 1961, was the first to be developed. It was originally designed to assist the Defense Department in tracking and analysing thousands of objects in space. Before the Space Fence system was developed, the Air Force relied on this system to track more than 20,000 objects in space. The new system will be able to track more than 1 million objects per day and provide better surveillance. The Air Force will be able to respond faster to potential threats to commercial and military space systems. The Air Force will be able to track depleted rocket boosters and space junk.
Space Fence is located on Kwajalein Atoll in the Marshall Islands. It is situated near the Ballistic Missile Defense testing site. It is operated by the Air Force's 20th Space Control Squadron. NASA shares responsibility for space situational alert. The Space Operations Command manages this unit. This is the unit responsible for operating sensors and operating the Space Surveillance Network.
Space Fence comprises two ground radars that can track more 100,000 objects each day. It will travel at speeds exceeding 17,500 miles per hour and is intended to provide uncued surveillance of low Earth orbit. Space Fence is used by the Air Force for monitoring and tracking space objects including military satellites in low and medium Earth orbits. Space Fence also offers communication services for military operations.
Space Fence will help the Air Force keep track of military and commercial space systems, and will provide an early warning of potential threats. Space Fence will help prevent collisions from near-Earth space. Space Fence provides information about objects orbiting the Earth, which allows the Air Force and Air Force to find out what objects are there and what events are taking place in space.