The 4102-s space track program

Abstract

There are five functions which the SPAce Track SEnsor Computer (SPASEC) real time program performs as part of an effective satellite surveillance system. It locates new satellites soon after launching; keeps up to date records of known satellite orbits; provides positional data of high accuracy for use by other systems; provides information on object size, shape and stability; indicates orbital change. The radar associated with this system can operate in both a surveillance mode to provide data on orbiting objects passing through the volume scanned or in a tracking mode to provide more accurate orbital data on observed objects. The computer program senses, identifies and discriminates among the objects penetrating the surveillance volume and then gathers the required data. This information then undergoes evaluation and the results are forwarded to the Spacetrack Center for additional analysis and correlation.