Today is a good day to die.
I didn't say for whom.
Posted on 02/04/2011 2:52:07 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
Electronic Systems Center officials have issued two competitive contract orders, each worth $107 million, for preliminary design of the Space Fence program. They awarded the contracts to Raytheon Corp.'s Integrated Defense Systems and Lockheed Martin Corporation's Mission Systems & Sensors Division.
The Space Fence program, with a total anticipated value of more than $3.5 billion, will deliver a system of geographically dispersed ground-based sensors to track space debris and provide timely assessment of space events, said program manager Linda Haines.
"That will allow us to reduce susceptibility to collision or attack, improve the space catalog accuracy and provide enhanced space flight safety," she said.
ESC officials released a request-for-proposal announcement in late October for this phase of the program.
During the 18-month period of performance, the contractors will be expected to develop preliminary system designs, radar performance analyses, evaluations and prototypes, and to conduct other technical activities. The work will address critical technology elements and critical manufacturing processes, key technical risks and production and life cycle costs to reduce total program technical, cost, schedule and performance risk.
"This will be done through the development of an approved, allocated baseline that meets or exceeds technology and manufacturing readiness levels demonstrated in robust prototypes of critical technology components and manufacturing processes," Ms. Haines said.
The goal is to have the system in full operation by September 2015.
Space situational awareness, or SSA, is now a national security priority, Ms. Haines said, with findings provided to Congress highlighting just how complex, congested and contested space is becoming. The Space Fence will form the foundation for full SSA by providing U.S. Strategic Command officials joint space-control capabilities.
Shouldn’t we worry and spend money on an actual fence on the Mexico border, before we put one in space?
I don’t think we’ve been invaded by space yet, have we?
Does it also come with high energy lasers?
The Space Fence program involves detecting, tracking, cataloging and identifying artificial objects orbiting Earth, i.e. active/inactive satellites, spent rocket bodies, or fragmentation debris.
Why can’t we build a system that detects, tracks, catalogs and identifies illegal aliens?
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