
Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) or Hornet is a class of United States
spy satellite
A reconnaissance satellite or intelligence satellite (commonly, although unofficially, referred to as a spy satellite) is an Earth observation satellite or communications satellite deployed for military or intelligence applications.
The ...
s.
The first two GSSAP spacecraft , GSSAP 1 (USA-253) and GSSAP 2 (USA-254) were launched in 2014. They were built by
Orbital Sciences Corporation
Orbital Sciences Corporation (commonly referred to as Orbital) was an American company specializing in the design, manufacture, and launch of small- and medium- class space and launch vehicle systems for commercial, military and other governmen ...
; their capabilities and development and construction budgets are classified. They operate in "near-geosynchronous orbit", The first launch was scheduled for 23 July 2014 aboard a
United Launch Alliance
United Launch Alliance, LLC (ULA) is an American launch service provider formed in December 2006 as a joint venture between Lockheed Martin Space and Boeing Defense, Space & Security. The company designs, assembles, sells and launches rockets ...
Delta IV
Delta IV was a group of five expendable launch systems in the Delta rocket family. It flew 45 missions from 2002 to 2024. Originally designed by Boeing's Defense, Space and Security division for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) p ...
launch vehicle
A launch vehicle is typically a rocket-powered vehicle designed to carry a payload (a crewed spacecraft or satellites) from Earth's surface or lower atmosphere to outer space. The most common form is the ballistic missile-shaped multistage ...
. Even during the testing process these satellites were pressed into early service to fulfill critical needs. In August 2023 the
Space Systems Command
Space Systems Command (SSC) is the United States Space Force's research and development, space development, Military acquisition, acquisition, space launch, launch, and Military logistics, logistics field command. It is headquartered at Los An ...
announced the retirement of the GSSAP-2 satellite, the first of the constellation to be decommissioned, and its subsequent transfer into a graveyard orbit.
GSSAP 3 (USA-270) and 4 (USA-271) satellites were launched on 19 August 2016. On 12 September 2017, both were declared operational. USA-270 approached two Chinese satellites in GEO to examine them more closely. In 2023, Chinese researchers reported having observed 13 other instances where US satellites approached Chinese ones.Two more satellites (GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6) have been successfully launched on 21 January 2022 by a
Atlas V
Atlas V is an expendable launch system and the fifth major version in the Atlas (rocket family), Atlas launch vehicle family. It was developed by Lockheed Martin and has been operated by United Launch Alliance (ULA) since 2006. Primarily used to ...
launch vehicle
A launch vehicle is typically a rocket-powered vehicle designed to carry a payload (a crewed spacecraft or satellites) from Earth's surface or lower atmosphere to outer space. The most common form is the ballistic missile-shaped multistage ...
.
In August 2023 the
Space Systems Command
Space Systems Command (SSC) is the United States Space Force's research and development, space development, Military acquisition, acquisition, space launch, launch, and Military logistics, logistics field command. It is headquartered at Los An ...
revealed that two more satellites have been ordered to
Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman Corporation is an American multinational Aerospace manufacturer, aerospace and Arms industry, defense company. With 97,000 employees and an annual revenue in excess of $40 billion, it is one of the world's largest Arms industry ...
to keep up with the demand for GSSAP assets. The launches of the new satellites were planned for 2024 and 2027 respectively, with the spacecraft being the first of the constellation not to be launched in pairs.
GSSAP 7 and 8 are scheduled to be launched together in 2025 by a
Vulcan Centaur VC4S.
GSSAP 9 and 10 will follow in 2027.
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Satellites
References
{{USAF space vehicles
Reconnaissance satellites