United States Space Surveillance Network

Common card · No. 404183

The United States Space Surveillance Network (SSN) detects, tracks, identifies, and catalogs artificial objects orbiting Earth. Examples include satellites, abandoned launch vehicle stages, and other space debris. The SSN is the responsibility of United States Space Command and is operated by the United States Space Force. Its functions include: Predict when and where a decaying space object will re-enter the Earth's atmosphere; Prevent a returning space object, which to radar looks like a missile, from triggering a false alarm in missile-attack warning sensors of the U.S. and other countries; Chart the present position of space objects and plot their anticipated orbital paths; Detect new artificial objects in space; Map objects traveling in Earth orbit; Produce a running catalog of artificial space objects; Determine ownership of a re-entering space object; Command and control of future U.S. anti-satellite weapon (ASAT) systems. The SSN includes dedicated, collateral, and contributing...

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