Early warning satellite

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Artist's rendering of a US DSP phase III satellite. DSP Phase3.jpg
Artist's rendering of a US DSP phase III satellite.

An early warning satellite is a satellite designed to rapidly identify ballistic missile launches and thus enable defensive military action. This type of satellite was developed during the Cold War and later became a component of missile defense systems.

Contents

The United States, Russia and China have a constellation of early warning satellites.

Description

Example of the firing sequence of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile: the propulsion allows detection by an early warning satellite during phases 2, 3 and 4 corresponding to the operation of the 3 stages of the missile (A, B and C). This missile rises to between 100 and 200 km in altitude (diagram not to scale). Minuteman III MIRV path.svg
Example of the firing sequence of the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile: the propulsion allows detection by an early warning satellite during phases 2, 3 and 4 corresponding to the operation of the 3 stages of the missile (A, B and C). This missile rises to between 100 and 200 km in altitude (diagram not to scale).

Early warning satellites primarily work through the detection of infrared radiation. [1] For the detection of ICBMs, this is only possible during the initial phases after a launch. The missile emits a large cloud of hot exhaust as it ascends to the desired altitude. After this stage, detection of the missile is difficult. The thrusters are turned off and the missile separates from previous stages, now carried to its target through momentum alone.

The missile - now without hot exhaust behind it - is rendered invisible to the early warning satellite, making the relatively short first phases of an ICBM a crucial moment for detection. Because the window for detection is small, multiple satellites are necessary for complete coverage of Earth. [2]

In orbit, the satellites are able to detect an ICBM launch through earth's background infrared radiation due to specific properties in how the water vapor absorbs infrared radiation. Once the missile has passed through the water-rich lower layers of the atmosphere, the specific infrared spectrum given off by the exhaust contrasts against the infrared emitted off the surface of earth, which must be filtered through the water vapor in the atmosphere. After focusing the light onto hundreds of infrared detectors, the satellite sends the location of the missile launch back to earth - alerting of a potential missile attack. [3]

Programs

United States

Artist's rendering of a SBIRS-GEO satellite. SBIRS-GEO 3.jpg
Artist's rendering of a SBIRS-GEO satellite.
Observation of a Delta II rocket launch by a SBIRS satellite in 2008. Infrared satellite imagery depicts a Delta II rocket launch through the clouds.jpg
Observation of a Delta II rocket launch by a SBIRS satellite in 2008.

The United States was the first country to attempt to establish a space-based early warning system. The goal was to detect Soviet ballistic missile launches and give 20 to 33 minutes notice of the missile's arrival (against 10 to 25 minutes for the BMEWS ground-based radar network).

The MIDAS satellites were launched between 1960 and 1966, and although they never entered a truly operational phase, they allowed the development of this type of satellite. DSP satellites in geostationary orbit took over in the early 1970s. Several generations of increasingly efficient DSP satellites followed one another until 2007.

Since 2011 the DSPs have been replaced by the SBIRS system, which includes dedicated satellites in geostationary orbit (SBIRS-GEO) and in low Earth orbit (SBIRS-LEO), as well as sensors on board Trumpet satellites for mixed use (wiretapping/warning) located in a Molniya orbit.

Soviet Union and Russia

The US-K and US-KS satellites developed under the Oko program were the first generation of Soviet early warning satellites. 86 US-K satellites were placed in a Molniya orbit between 1972 and 2010 and 7 US-KS satellites, of a very similar design, were placed in geostationary orbit between 1975 and 1997, the system becoming operational in 1980.

In 1983, a design error in the on-board software of the US-KS satellites led to the so-called fall equinox incident, which consisted of a false nuclear launch warning after a confusion between the heat caused by the reflection of solar radiation in clouds and that released by the launch of a nuclear missile. [4]

Unlike their US counterparts, the US-K and US-KS only detect surface-to-surface ballistic missile launches, due to less sophisticated electronics. Later, the US-KS were replaced by the US-KMO, capable of detecting sea-to-land ballistic missile launches as well. The first of them would be placed in geostationary orbit in 1991.

In the early 1990s, after about ten years of operation, the coverage provided by these satellites was only partial, due to a reduction in the launch rate.

In 2014, the last 3 US-type satellites in service ceased their activities. [5] They have been replaced starting in 2015 by a new generation of satellites: EKS, formerly known as Tundra. [6] [7] [8]

Other countries

In France, the Direction générale de l'Armement carried out preliminary tests for the development of an early warning satellite. Infrared sensors were tested on two small experimental SPIRALE satellites launched in 2009. However, an operational satellite was not expected to be launched before the end of 2020. [9]

China operates Huoyan-1 series satellites under the Tongxin Jishu Shiyan (TJS) program. [10]

Satellite series

References: [11]  · [12]  · [13]  · [14]  · [15]  · [16]  · [17]  · [18]  · [19]  · [20]  · [21]  · [22]  · [23]  · [24]  · [25]  · [26]
CountrySeriesLaunch datesLaunches number / failuresLauncherMassOrbitLifespanStatusComments
United States MIDAS 1960-196612/4 Atlas- Agena 2 tons approx. Low Earth orbit from some weeks to 1 yearRetiredFirst generation; experimental; 4 versions
United States DSP (phase I)1970-19734/1 Titan-3C907 kg Geostationary orbit 1,25 yearsRetired
United States DSP (phase II)1975-19773/0 Titan-3C1043 kg Geostationary orbit 2 yearsRetired
United States DSP (phase II MOS/PIM)1979-19844/0 Titan-3C1170 kg Geostationary orbit 3 yearsRetired
United States DSP (phase II v2)1954-19872/0 Titan-IVD Transtage1674 kg Geostationary orbit 3 yearsRetired
United States DSP (phase III)1989-200710/1 Titan-IVD Transtage2386 kg Geostationary orbit ¿3 years?¿Operational?To be replaced by SBIRS
United States SBIRS 2011-12/0 Atlas V 401 or



Delta IV-4M+(4,2)		4500 kg (SBIRS-GEO)



1000 kg (SBIRS-LOW)		 Geostationary orbit / Low Earth orbit / Molniya orbit 12 years (SBIRS-GEO)OperationalGeostationary satellites (SBIRS-GEO), satellites in low orbit (SBIRS-LEO), and sensors on Trumpet satellites in Molniya orbit
USSR/Russia US-K 1972-201086/3 Molniya 2400 kg Molniya orbit 1 yearRetiredReplaced by EKS
USSR/Russia US-KS 1975-19977/0 Proton-K/Bloc-DM2400 kg Geostationary orbit 1 yearRetiredAlmost identical to the US-K, replaced by the US-KMO
USSR/Russia US-KMO 1991-20128/0 Proton-K/Bloc-DM-22600 kg Geostationary orbit 5–7 yearsRetiredReplaced by EKS
Russia EKS 2015-6/0 Soyuz-2.1b/Fregat-M? Molniya orbit ?Operational

See also

Related Research Articles

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The Defense Support Program (DSP) is a program of the United States Space Force that operated the reconnaissance satellites which form the principal component of the Satellite Early Warning System used by the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space-Based Infrared System</span> Missile warning and defence system

The Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) is a United States Space Force system intended to meet the United States' Department of Defense infrared space surveillance needs through the first two to three decades of the 21st century. The SBIRS program is designed to provide key capabilities in the areas of missile warning, missile defense, battlespace characterization and technical intelligence via satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), sensors hosted on satellites in highly elliptical orbit (HEO), and ground-based data processing and control.

Upravlyaemy Sputnik Kontinentalny or US-K is a series of Russian, previously Soviet, satellites used to detect missile launches as part of the Oko system. It consists of a constellation of satellites, usually in molniya orbits, designated under the Kosmos system. The satellites are built by the company NPO Lavochkin and are launched on Molniya-M rockets. Oko can be directly translated as the Russian word for eye. As of June 2014, only two of the eight satellites in orbit were still functional, rendering the system inoperable.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Missile Defense Alarm System</span> Satellite early warning system

The Missile Defense Alarm System, or MIDAS, was a United States Air Force Air Defense Command system of 12 early-warning satellites that provided limited notice of Soviet intercontinental ballistic missile launches between 1960 and 1966. Originally intended to serve as a complete early-warning system working in conjunction with the Ballistic Missile Early Warning System, cost and reliability concerns limited the project to a research and development role. Three of the system's 12 launches ended in failure, and the remaining nine satellites provided crude infrared early-warning coverage of the Soviet Union until the project was replaced by the Defense Support Program. MiDAS represented one element of the United States's first generation of reconnaissance satellites that also included the Corona and SAMOS series. Though MIDAS failed in its primary role as a system of infrared early-warning satellites, it pioneered the technologies needed in successor systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA-200</span> American signals intelligence satellite

USA-200, also known as NRO Launch 28 or NROL-28, is an American signals intelligence satellite, operated by the National Reconnaissance Office. Launched in 2008, it has been identified as the second satellite in a series known as Improved Trumpet, Advanced Trumpet, or Trumpet follow-on; a replacement for the earlier Trumpet series of satellites.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA-205</span> Satellite operated by the United States Missile Defense Agency

USA-205, also known as Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Advanced Technology Risk Reduction (STSS-ATRR), and previously as Block 2010 Spacecraft Risk Reduction is a satellite formerly operated by the United States Missile Defense Agency. It was launched to demonstrate new technology for missile detection early warning systems (MDEWS). The technology demonstrated on STSS-ATRR was used in the development of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) part of the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS).

Upravlyaemy Sputnik Kontinentalny Statsionarny, or US-KS, also known as Oko-S, was a series of Soviet, and later Russian, missile detection satellites launched as part of the Oko programme. US-KS was a derivative of the US-K satellite, optimised for operations in geosynchronous orbit. Seven were launched between 1975 and 1997, when launches ended in favour of the modernised US-KMO. US-KS had the GRAU index 74Kh6. As of December 2015, the entire Oko programme is being replaced by the new EKS system.

USA-230, also known as SBIRS GEO-1, is a United States military satellite and part of the Space-Based Infrared System.

Oko is a Russian missile defence early warning programme consisting of satellites in Molniya and geosynchronous orbits. Oko satellites are used to identify launches of ballistic missiles by detection of their engines' exhaust plume in infrared light, and complement other early warning facilities such as Voronezh, Daryal and Dnepr radars. The information provided by these sensors can be used for the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system which defends Moscow. The satellites are run by the Russian Aerospace Forces, and previously the Russian Aerospace Defence Forces and Russian Space Forces. Since November 2015, it is being replaced by the new EKS system.

Kosmos 2345 is a Russian US-KS missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1997 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

Kosmos 2209 is a Russian US-KS missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1992 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

Kosmos 2155 is a Russian US-KS missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1991 as part of the Russian Space Forces' Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

Kosmos 1894 is a Soviet US-KS missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1987 as part of the Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

Kosmos 775 is a Soviet US-KS missile early warning satellite which was launched in 1975 as part of the Oko programme. The satellite is designed to identify missile launches using optical telescopes and infrared sensors.

EKSKupol is a developing programme of Russian early warning satellites as a replacement for the US-KMO and US-K satellites of the Oko programme. The satellites are designed to identify any possible future ballistic missile launches, from outer space, and complement early warning radars such as the Voronezh. This gives advance notice of a nuclear attack and would provide information to the A-135 missile defence system which protects Moscow, as well as other Russian missile defense and counterattack resources. Six satellites are planned to be initially orbited. The first of these was launched on 17 November 2015 and as of November 2022, all six of them are in service.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA-273</span> United States military satellite

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA-282</span> United States military satellite

USA-282, also known as SBIRS GEO-4, is a United States military satellite and part of the Space-Based Infrared System.

Tongxin Jishu Shiyan is a Chinese military satellite program operating in geostationary orbit (GEO). TJS satellites are manufactured by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) and launched from Xichang Satellite Launch Center (XSLC) in China's southern Sichuan Province. TJS is likely the cover name for multiple geostationary military satellite programs and should not be confused with the similarly named Shiyan satellite program.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">USA-336</span> US Space Force geostationary satellite

USA-336, also known as SBIRS-GEO 6 , is a geostationary satellite operated by the United States Space Force. USA-336 forms part of the SBIRS High program.

References

  1. ↑ "Defense Support Program Satellites". United States Space Force. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  2. ↑ "Enhanced Space-Based Missile Tracking". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
  3. ↑ Hall, Cargill (July 1998). "MISSILE DEFENSE ALARM: THE GENESIS OF SPACE-BASED INFRARED EARLY WARNING" (PDF). NRO History– via nro.gov.
  4. ↑ Dr. Geoffrey Forden (11 June 2001). "False Alarms in the Nuclear Age". PBS..
  5. ↑ "Early warning". Russian strategic nuclear forces. 11 February 2015. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. ↑ Honkova, Jana (2013). "The Russian Federation's Approach to Military Space and Its Military Space Capabilities" (PDF). George C. Marshall Institute: 1–43. Honkova2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  7. ↑ Brian Harvey (2007). The Rebirth of the Russian Space Program - 50 Years After Sputnik, New Frontiers. Springer-Praxis. pp. 132–136. ISBN   978-0-387-71354-0. Harvey2007.
  8. ↑ Zak, Anatoly (2 November 2022). "Soyuz launches a missile-detection satellite". RussianSpaceWeb. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
  9. ↑ "PEA SPRIRALE" (in French). Optronique & Défense. 29 October 2010. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Clark, Phillip S. (January 2018). Becklake, John (ed.). "China's Shiyan Weixing Satellite Programme: 2004–2017" (PDF). Space Chronicle: A British Interplanetary Society Publication. 71 (1). London: 23. ISBN   978-0-9567382-2-6.
  11. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "US-K (73D6)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  12. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "US-KS (74Kh6)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  13. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "US-KMO (71Kh6)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  14. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "Tundra (14F142)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  15. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "STSS 1, 2". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  16. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "SBIRS-GEO 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  17. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "Trumpet-F/O-2' 1, 2". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  18. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "DSP 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 (Phase 3)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  19. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "DSP 12, 13 (Phase 2 Upgrade)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  20. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "DSP 8, 9, 10, 11 (Phase 2 MOS/PIM)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  21. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "DSP 5, 6, 7 (Phase 2)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  22. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "DSP 1, 2, 3, 4 (Phase 1)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  23. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "MIDAS 1, 2 (MIDAS Series 1)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  24. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "MIDAS 3, 4, 5 (MIDAS Series 2)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  25. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "MIDAS 6, 7, 8, 9". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.
  26. ↑ Gunter Dirk Krebs. "RTS-1 1, 2, 3 (MIDAS-RTS-1 1, 2, 3 / AFP-461)". Gunter's space page. Retrieved 31 December 2014.

Bibliography

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