The Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., plans on Jan. 25-26 to hold an industry discussion about development of a Space Based Space Surveillance Objective System. The proposed SBSS system would be a constellation of electro-optical sensing satellites that will search for, detect, and track objects in near earth and deep space orbits. It builds upon a 1996 concept demonstration called the Space Based Visible Telescope, which USAF deployed on the Mid-course Space Experiment satellite. The SBV telescope is approaching its end of life.
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3