Update about Space Fence

Update of "Northropp Grumman to support net-centric space situational awareness" (Tuesday, July 14, 2009)


Raytheon Awarded $30 Million for Space Fence System Design and Prototyping


Reference: Raytheon
Image: Defense Tech


Raytheon Company was awarded one of three $30 million contracts for Phase A system design and prototype of the Space Fence system. Space Fence will provide the U.S. Air Force enhanced space surveillance capability to detect and report space objects.

"Space Fence is the future of space situational awareness," said Pete Franklin, vice president for Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems' National & Theater Security Programs. "This sensor will have the capability to detect and track very small objects in low Earth orbit."

The Space Fence program is a multi-phase acquisition leading to the delivery of up to three globally positioned S-band radars capable of interoperation with the Space Surveillance Network. The system will ensure there is no gap in capability as the current systems in the network reach the end of their life spans. Delivery of the first radar system is expected in 2015.

Northropp Grumman to support net-centric space situational awareness

Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract to Develop Space Fence Technology

Reference: Northrop Grumman

Image: Defense Tech

Northrop Grumman Corporation has been awarded the first phase of a $30 million firm-fixed price U.S. Air Force contract to develop a global space surveillance ground radar system.

The new S-Band Space Fence is part of the U.S. Department of Defense's effort to track and detect what is commonly referred to as resident space objects (RSO), consisting of thousands of pieces of "space debris" as well as commercial and military satellites. Space Fence will replace the current VHF Air Force Space Surveillance System built in 1961.

Space Fence will provide continuous, net-centric space situational awareness by detecting smaller objects in low and medium earth orbit. The current system requires constant sustainment intervention to maintain operations and does not address the growing population of small and micro satellites in orbit.

"The new Space Fence system will provide better accuracy and faster detection while allowing us to increase the number of satellites and other space objects that can be detected and tracked, thus avoiding collision and damage to other satellites," said Rich Davis, director of special projects at Northrop Grumman's Advanced Concepts and Technology Division.

Australia is a candidate for the first Space Fence location. Two additional sites in other parts of the world are also under consideration.

Further reading: Space Fence reinvented (C4ISR Journal)