The massive phased-array early warning radar at Thule AB, Greenland, that Raytheon is upgrading successfully tracked a satellite for the first time in its new configuration during a recent operational space surveillance mission, the company announced yesterday. This event was an important milestone as the upgraded radar progresses towards operational status, the company said. Raytheon is adding leading-edge electronics, computer hardware, and mission software to increase the radar’s ability to detect and track ballistic missiles so that it may support ballistic missile defense missions. The upgraded radar will continue to serve in additional roles, such as tracking space objects.
United Launch Alliance’s new Vulcan Centaur rocket is slated to fly its second national security mission in February—nearly six months after its first operational launch and almost a year after it was certified to fly military payloads for the Space Force.
