Eyes on Orbit

Sept. 27, 2010

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The Air Force’s first Space Based Space Surveillance satellite is now on orbit and has transmitted its first signals from space, according to Air Force and industry officials. “The signals indicate that the satellite is functioning normally and is ready to begin orbital maneuvers and operational testing,” prime contractor Boeing announced Sunday, the day following the satellite’s placement in orbit. Boeing officials expect that the satellite will be turned over to the Air Force and ready to perform its mission within 60 days, after on-orbit testing concludes. An Orbital Sciences Minotaur IV launch vehicle carried SBSS into space from Vandenberg AFB, Calif. SBSS is designed to detect and track orbiting space objects from space. “SBSS will greatly enhance our existing space situational awareness capability,” said Col. Richard Boltz, commander of Vandy’s 30th Space Wing that conducted the launch mission. Ball Aerospace manufactured the satellite. (Vandenberg release) (Boeing release)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

Trending Stories

Air Guard Pilots Test HH-60 Helicopters Against an F-15 Fighter Attack

Pentagon Doubling Down on Alternatives to GPS That Aren’t in Space

Air Force Looks to Cut Squadrons That Advise, Train Foreign Militaries

Chinese Parade Emphasizes Operational Fifth-Gen Fighters, Unmanned Aircraft

Related Content

Space Operations Command Getting New Name, New Boss

Sept. 5, 2025
The Space Force plans to rename Space Operations Command, one of its three field commands, to Combat Forces Command to emphasize its role in providing combat forces to different combatant commands. The change is not final but is expected to occur after the confirmation of a new commander, Maj. Gen.…

Rebuilding Arctic Defenses Will Be Key to Golden Dome: Report

Sept. 4, 2025
The U.S. homeland is vulnerable to air and missile attack across the Arctic because the network of ground, air, and space-based defenses guarding those approaches have atrophied over time, according to a new paper from AFA’s Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies. 

GAO: ‘Action Needed’ to Solve F-35 Block 4 Issues

Sept. 4, 2025
Even after reducing the scope of Block 4 F-35 upgrades, Lockheed Martin will still needs two years to develop and install planned improvements, the Government Accountability Office said in a new audit of the fighter program. Details about what upgrades will be carried into production, as well as a new…

Pentagon Doubling Down on Alternatives to GPS That Aren’t in Space

Sept. 4, 2025
The U.S. military is doubling down on non-space-based alternatives to GPS, the ubiquitous position, navigation, and timing service provided by the U.S. Space Force, with new funding for the development and testing of operational prototypes of quantum-based devices that don’t depend on easily jammable signals from satellites. 

Chinese Parade Emphasizes Operational Fifth-Gen Fighters, Unmanned Aircraft

Sept. 3, 2025
The People’s Republic of China emphasized operational and near-operational fifth-generation aircraft in its massive Sept. 2 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan in World War II. Also trucked through Tiananmen Square were a number of uncrewed aircraft, many of which bear a striking resemblance to U.S.…

Reserve Airmen Can Now Apply for Part-Time Space Force Jobs

Sept. 3, 2025
Air Force Reservists who work in space-related career fields or who have space-related experience can now apply to join the Space Force in part-time positions, marking the latest step of a new experiment in how the military attracts and retains top talent.