Space domain awareness

US Officials Reveal Details About Constellation to Monitor Satellites of Foreign Adversaries

Lt. Gen. Michael Guetlein, the head of Space Systems Command, told reporters in late August that the in-development Silentbarker constellation is expected to maintain “100 percent custody” of Chinese and Russian satellites in geosynchronous orbit regardless of weather conditions.

Silentbarker will work to provide space domain awareness, increasing the ability of the United States to monitor satellites from adversaries.

Guetlein said the National Reconnaissance Office will operate Silentbarker, though its data will be stored in a U.S. Space Command catalog of space objects.

According to NRO Director Christopher Scolese, a past Potomac Officers Club speaker and a 2023 Wash100 winner, Silentbarker will enhance decision-making regarding possible satellite maneuvers and other courses of action.

Scolese noted that the first Silentbarker satellite deployment would comprise multiple payloads and that at least two more launches will be necessary to reach full operational capability in 2026, Breaking Defense reported Thursday.

The launch of the first Silentbarker payloads was scheduled for Aug. 29 but was delayed due to Hurricane Idalia.

NRO and the Space Force planned for the payloads to deploy aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Base in Florida.