New Orbiting Space Force Sensors Start Feeding Intel Changing Views on Certain Foreign Orbital Activities

The three new sensors in geosynchronous Earth orbit that the U.S. Space Force launched in January are now operational and have collected potential threats “changing the intelligence estimate on certain foreign capabilities,” Kelly Hammett, Space Rapid Capabilities Office director, said. 

Hammett did not provide additional details, but told reporters at the inaugural Spacepower conference in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday that the sensors’ testing was completed quickly, resulting in “a lot of interesting data” shared with the intelligence community.

According to Hammett, the sensor demonstration satellites’ payload also features cryptologic solutions enabling cybersecurity enhancement and reprogramming of keys and software, Breaking Defense reported Thursday.

SpRCO is now planning the sensors’ transition to the rest of its space systems enterprise. The office oversees 17 projects, most of which are classified but with three partly under the public domain. 

One is the Satellite Communications Augmentation Resource program on new phased array antenna replacements for the Satellite Control Network. Another effort comes in the Rapid Resilient Command and Control to enable Space Force operators’ management of hundreds of orbiting satellites and spacecraft.