Firms that donate to Inouye receive earmarks Nov 3, 2009
The High Accuracy Network Determination System is a "relatively low-cost" network of telescopes that give the Air Force more accurate space tracking data, according to documents from Inouye's office. Multiple-Target Tracking Optical Sensor-Array Technology would improve data from missile defense systems. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Politics)
Satellites: The Pentagon's Big Blind Spot Oct 28, 2009
The southern half of the world is something of a blind spot for military space tracking systems, say both senior defense officials involved in space policy and private satellite operators. "If a collision happens down there, you don't see it," says Paul Graziani, president of , which makes systems used by the military to operate and guide satellites. (BusinessWeek)
US sends 2 missile defense satellites into orbit Sep 26, 2009
The pair was launched aboard a Delta 2 rocket on Friday morning as part of the Space Tracking and Surveillance System demonstration for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency. According to Bob Bishop, media relations manager for satellite developer Northrop Grumman, the satellites will demonstrate technology that can detect infrared and visible light from missiles launched from earth. (Chippewa Falls Chippewa Herald, WI)
Satellites set for missile tracking Sep 26, 2009
The agency has spent more than $1 billion since 2002 developing the Space Tracking and Surveillance System satellites and a related ground control station ... Garrett Lee Skrobot is NASA's mission manager for the Space Tracking and Surveillance System and oversaw the launch. (Florida Today)
Satellites flying in formation over Asia Sep 2, 2009
In February, for example, France launched a pair of demonstration micro-FSATs known as Spirale to detect missile launches using infrared sensors, and next month, the US will do the same thing with its Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration. The important role of micro-FSATs in so-called "battlespace" and "counterspace" operations is obvious. (Asia Times Online)
Missile Defense Community Shifts Away from European Third Site in Poland and the Czech Republic Aug 22, 2009
One alternative solution that was referenced in many of the discussions as well as presented by Lt General Patrick O'Reilly, director of the Missile Defense Agency, is the concept of land-basing the SM3 and Aegis sea-based missile defense system and integrating it with current missile defense sensors and with new sensors such as remote UAVs, and space-based sensors such as the STSS (Space Tracking Surveillance System). This would enable the system if placed in geographic desired locations and... (PR Newswire)
Saturday TV: Coming Home Aug 21, 2009
The news that NASA's Tidbinbilla space tracking station will be beaming our messages at the planet Gliese 581 d, 20 light years away, raises the question: "What on earth should we say?" My vote goes with transmitting an episode of Rage, the best music-video show in the universe. Tonight's show, programmed by high-energy Anglo-Australian electro-rock act Pendulum, would be a good place to start. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Entertainment)
Dear alien, can I add you to Facebook? Aug 14, 2009
The messages will be beamed to the planet from NASA's Tidbinbilla space tracking station, outside Canberra, to mark National Science Week, which starts on Saturday. Announcing the rare public opportunity to greet alien life forms, the Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Kim Carr, revealed he had crafted his cosmic communique: ''Hello from Australia on the planet we call Earth. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Brandenstein, others recall lunar landing Jul 21, 2009
The town is holding a large celebration and former employees of NASA will be able to visit the former space tracking station today as part of the celebration. . (Watertown Daily Times, WI)
Australia keeps space dream alive with huge telescope investment Jul 20, 2009
AUSTRALIAN scientists played their part in the first moon landing 40 years ago, using space tracking stations and the Parkes radio telescope to communicate with the Apollo 11 mission. Now the Federal Government wants to ensure local astronomers remain at the cutting edge by contributing $88. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
How We'd Shoot Down a North Korean Missile Jul 10, 2009
What's more, by the end of the year, Northern Command will be able to rely on two new satellite prototypes called the space tracking and surveillance system. Once called "brilliant eyes," in the hey day of Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative, the satellites will augment the ground radars with additional tracking data. (Human Events Online)
Photo Release -- Northrop Grumman Delivers Second Demonstration Satellite for Space Tracking and Surveillance System Jul 3, 2009
July 2, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: - ) completed delivery of both Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites on June 25, 2009, when the second satellite arrived at the U.S. Air Force's Cape Canaveral Air Station for launch preparation. The company delivered the first STSS demonstration satellite on May 1, 2009. (Primezone Releases)
Forty years after one small step on the moon, we're bracing for a giant impact Jun 16, 2009
The Tidbinbilla space tracking station, outside Canberra, will play a key role, monitoring the probe as it begins its voyage on Thursday morning, and the crash, set for October. Finding lunar ice, said Tidbinbilla's spokesman, Glen Nagle, would give a major boost to NASA's hopes of returning humans to the moon by 2020. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
President Obama Outlines His Plan for Missile Defense May 9, 2009
"The Obama Administration's direction for missile defense focuses on: - Increasing capability against short and medium range ballistic missiles in regions against rogue nations to protect our forward based armed forces and allies through deploying more THAAD, SM3 missiles and AEGIS BMD Ships as well as developing land based SM3 missile defense systems. - Developing assent and upper boost phase missile defense capabilities through SM3/ AEGIS development, enhanced THAAD capability, and deploying a... (PR Newswire)
Airmen Support Successful Launch of Delta II Rocket May 7, 2009
Delta II launch successful. " The STSS ATRR serves as a technology pathfinder for the STSS mission, which is a space-based sensor component of a layered Ballistic Missile Defense System. To carry out this mission, range operators from the 2nd Range Operations Squadron here worked hand in hand with mission partners from the MDA, NASA and the United Launch Alliance. "We started preparing for this mission about six months ago," said Capt. Barbara King, the mission range operations commander. "It's... (DOD DefenseLINK)
Aerojet Engine Assists With STSS ATRR Satellite Launch May 6, 2009
May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Aerojet, a GenCorp (NYSE: ) company, announced today that its engine helped propel the Delta II launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB) to put the Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction (STSS ATRR) satellite into orbit for NASA and the Missile Defense Agency. The Missile Defense Agency's STSS Advanced Technology Risk Reduction satellite serves as a technology pathfinder for the STSS mission - a space-based sensor... (PR Newswire)
Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne's RS-27A Engine Boosts Missile Defense Satellite May 6, 2009
May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, a United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: ) company, boosted a Space Tracking and Surveillance System Advanced Technology Risk Reduction (STSS-ATRR) satellite into orbit from Vandenberg Air Force Base today. The satellite was onboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket, powered by a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-27A engine. (PR Newswire)
United Launch Alliance Successfully Launches Missile Defense Mission May 6, 2009
May 5 /PRNewswire/ -- A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket, on behalf of the NASA Launch Services Program, successfully launched the Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Advanced Technology Risk Reduction (ATRR) mission for the United States Missile Defense Agency at 1:24 p.m. PDT, today. The Missile Defense Agency's STSS Advanced Technology Risk Reduction satellite serves as a technology pathfinder for the STSS mission - a space-based sensor component of the layered Ballistic... (PR Newswire)
Countdown continues toward liftoff May 5, 2009
The Delta space booster will carry the Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Advanced Technology Risk Reduction mission called STSS-ATRR. The 400 million experimental satellite, which is scheduled to operate for a year, will test prototype sensor technology for the Missile Defense Agency. The satellite is scheduled to separate from the rocket 58 minutes after launch, officials said. (Lompoc Record, CA)
VAFB readies for daylight launch May 3, 2009
Riding inside the rocket s nose cone will be the Space Tracking and Surveillance System-Advanced Technology Risk Reduction mission called STSS-ATRR. ... The Vandenberg launch is a preview of sorts for two MDA Space Tracking and Surveillance Systems satellites, scheduled to launch on a Delta 2 rocket this summer from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. (Lompoc Record, CA)
What to expect from version 8.4 of PostreSQL database Mar 25, 2009
New data structures: Visibility Map The second big improvement in free space tracking is the visibility map. This is a bitmap that tracks what data is visible to transactions. (Search Enterprise Linux)
