February 14, 2004 :: Space.com :: News
The Cold War may be over, but the threat from ballistic missiles is not, as Russia’s nuclear war exercise should assure any doubts to the contrary. Today a Titan 4 placed an American missile launch warning satellite into orbit.
The 5,000 pound Defense Support Program (DSP) Satellite is part of an older network which uses infrared sensors to track heat and light such as that generated from a missile’s plume as it takes flight. Plans have long been in place, however, to replace these with a newer and more advanced network of satellites called the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS). Nevertheless, “These satellites will remain the backbone for the nation’s missile warning system,” said Col. Robert Reese of the Space & Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base. One other DSP satellite is also reportedly scheduled to be launched in March, by a Delta 4 rocket.
As Chief of DSP operations at Peterson Air Force Base, Major Francis Diorin commented, “The threat is still there.” “The Soviets still have ICBMs on alert,” he noted. Indeed, this week’s extensive tests by Russia confirm that the former Soviet Union means to not only keep, but improve and increase both their offensive strategic ballistic missiles and their own missile defense system. The United States has a moral duty to its citizenry to defend against these threats.
The DSP satellite is No. 22 of 23 in the constellation.
(Article)» Lockheed press release from launch
» Video of Titan launch
» More stories on: Space-Based Systems, Detection and Tracking
» Missile system details for: Defense Support Program (DSP)
