Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program

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GSSAP artist rendering Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program.jpg
GSSAP artist rendering

Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) or Hornet is a class of United States spy satellites.

Contents

Missions

AFSPC-4 (GSSAP-1 & 2)

Delta IV 368 launches GSSAP 1 and 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 2014 'Team Patrick-Cape' launches GSSAP mission (2000829480).jpg
Delta IV 368 launches GSSAP 1 and 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 2014

The first two GSSAP spacecraft, GSSAP 1 (USA-253) and GSSAP 2 (USA-254) were launched in 2014. They were built by Orbital 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 a United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle. [3] Even during the testing process these satellites were pressed into early service to fulfill critical needs. [4] In August 2023 the Space Systems Command announced the retirement of the GSSAP-2 satellite, the first of the constellation to be decommissioned, and its subsequent transfer into a graveyard orbit.

AFSPC-6 (GSSAP-3 & 4)

Liftoff of GSSAP 3 and 4 on 19 August 2016 atop Delta IV 375 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station AFSPC6 by United Launch Alliance (28464816573).jpg
Liftoff of GSSAP 3 and 4 on 19 August 2016 atop Delta IV 375 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

GSSAP 3 (USA-270) and 4 (USA-271) satellites were launched on 19 August 2016. On 12 September 2017, both were declared operational. [5] USA-270 approached two Chinese satellites in GEO to examine them more closely. [6] In 2023, Chinese researchers reported having observed 13 other instances where US satellites approached Chinese ones. [7]

USSF-8 (GSSAP-5 & 6)

Atlas V AV-084 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, 21 January 2022 with GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6. Atlas V takeoff (7141539).jpeg
Atlas V AV-084 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, 21 January 2022 with GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6.

Two more satellites (GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6) have been successfully launched on 21 January 2022 by a Atlas V launch vehicle. [8]

USSF-87 (GSSAP-7 & 8) and future

In August 2023 the Space Systems Command revealed that two more satellites have been ordered to Northrop Grumman to keep up with the demand for GSSAP assets. [9] The launches of the new satellites were planned for 2024 and 2027 respectively, with the spacecraft being the first of the constellation not to be launched in pairs. [10]

GSSAP 7 and 8 are scheduled to be launched together in 2025 by a Vulcan Centaur VC4S. [11] [12] [13] GSSAP 9 and 10 will follow in 2027. [11]

Reactions

The GSSAP satellites have a limit to the amount of maneuvering they can undertake, due to fuel supply limitations. In 2023 Aviation Week reported that Northrop Grumman had a contract to install hydrazine refueling valves in future satellites, to enable on-orbit refueling. [14]

Chinese astronomers track GSSAP satellite movements, enabling the prediction of their observations. Chinese satellites have been observed changing orbital trajectories to observe GSSAP satellites or to make observation by GSSAP satellites more difficult. [15]

Satellites

Name NSSDC ID Launch dateLauncher
GSSAP 1, Hornet 1, USA 2532022-174A23 July 2014

23:28

 Delta IV 368
GSSAP 2, Hornet 2, USA 2542022-174B
GSSAP 3, Hornet 3, USA 2702016-052A19 August 2016

04:52

Delta IV 375
GSSAP 4, Hornet 4, USA 2712016-052B
GSSAP 5, Hornet 5, USA 3242022-006A21 January 2022

19:00

 Atlas V AV-084
GSSAP 6, Hornet 6, USA 3252022-006B
GSSAP 7, Hornet 7, USSF 872025 Vulcan Centaur VC4S
GSSAP 8, Hornet 8, USSF 87
GSSAP 9, Hornet 92027
GSSAP 10, Hornet 10

See also

References

  1. ↑ Neighborhood watch in space, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 4 August 2014, p.12
  2. ↑ Butler, Amy (21 February 2014). "USAF Reveals Classified, New Spy Satellite". Aviation Week & Sapce Technology. Archived from the original on 26 February 2014. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Harper, Jon (22 July 2014). "Air Force launching satellites to spy on other satellites". stripes.com. Stars and Stripes. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  4. ↑ Gruss, Mike (18 September 2015). "Space Surveillance Sats Pressed into Early Service". spacenews.com. SpaceNews. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
  5. ↑ 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. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved 15 September 2017.PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .
  6. ↑ Werner, Debra (2022-06-16). "An In-Orbit Game of Cat and Mouse: Close approaches prompt calls for communications and norms". SpaceNews.
  7. ↑ Tamim, Baba (2023-05-07). "US conducted 14 spy missions on China's satellites in 2 years, claims Chinese study". interestingengineering.com.
  8. ↑ Graham, William (21 January 2022). "ULA's Atlas V launches satellite-inspection mission for Space Force". NASASpaceFlight . Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  9. ↑ Erwin, Sandra (15 August 2023). "U.S. deactivates GSSAP surveillance satellite, two new ones in the works" . Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  10. ↑ Hadley, Greg (17 August 2023). "Space Force Deactivates One Space Surveillance Satellite, Sets Plans for Two More". Air & Space Forces Magazine. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  11. 1 2 "GSSAP 1,..., 10 (Hornet 1,..., 10)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2025-06-08.
  12. ↑ "FY21 NSS Missions". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  13. ↑ @GewoonLukas_ (June 24, 2024). "The second one will be the USSF-87 mission, which will likely carry the 7th GSSAP satellite directly to Geosynchronous orbit. It currently looks like Vulcan will be flying in the VC2 configuration for this mission, although a VC4 has been previously reported" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ Reim, Garrett (19 June 2023). "U.S. Space Force Explains Limits Of GSSAP Surveillance Satellites". Aviation Week. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
  15. ↑ Gruss, Mike (25 September 2024). "One way to learn about U.S. spy satellites? China". GovExec Space Project. Retrieved 6 October 2025.
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