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SWIFTU (Legacy)
Space Warfighter Intelligence Formal Training Unit Questions
Question | Answer |
---|---|
What level of war was the initial beneficiary of emerging space technologies? | Strategic |
Who was both the "Father of German Rocketry" and the "Father of American Space Program"? | Wernher Von Braun |
Why is the "missile gap" a concern for the US? | The USSR had been testing nuclear weapons and had successful ICBM flights, so if the USSR had a lot more missiles than the US, we would be powerless. |
Early warning and tracking sites in the northern tier that allowed the US advanced warning of an ICBM attack | BMEWS (Ballistic Missile Early Warning Radars) |
First imagery satellite. Dropped film canisters to Earth, assessed there was no "missile gap" | CORONA |
First military communications satellite system. 26-sided polygons launched to slightly less than geosynchronous. Transmitted photos and data during Vietnam. | IDCSP (Initial Defense Communication Satellite) |
Early warning system of satellites that worked with BMEWS to improve missile warning timelines. Dual phenomenology used radar and OPIR. Led to DSP. | MiDAS (Missile Defense Alarm System) |
Highly classified first weather satellite. Provided strategic military weather planning data to CORONA & others. | TIROS-1 (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) |
First operational satellite navigation system. Gave USN ballistic missile submarines accurate location information. | TRANSIT (NAVSAT |
How did the US address the problem of detecting a Soviet ICBM attack | BMEWS and MIDAS |
What drove the need to develop space-based ISR stellites? | The US needed overflight of the Soviet Union to assess the "missile gap", but the Soviets were increasingly secretive (rejecting Open Skies) and other means (balloons, U-2s) were not effective. |
How much warning did the BMEWS system allow? | 10-15 minutes |
How much strategic warning did hte MIDAS allow? | ~30 minutes |
Limitations caused by adversary capability and/or actions. | Contested |
Limitations caused by degradation due to system malfunction. | Degraded |
Limitations caused by physical or operational constraints that do not fall under contested or degraded elements. | Operationally Limited |
Includes earth & space-based sensors. Requisite knowledge and characterization of space objects and the operational environment. | SSA |
Provides freedom of action in space for friendly forces, and when directed, denies it to an adversary. | Space Control |
Provides precise and accurate geolocation, navigation and time reference services. Mission-essential for virtually every modern weapon system. | PNT |
Synchronizes and integrates multiple sensors, assets and systems for gathering information on an object or in an area of interest. Provides information on adversary location, disposition and intent. | ISR |
Provides leadership with a means to maintain situational awareness and convey their intent to subordinate forces. Connects forces to each other and reach back in regions with little infrastructure. | SATCOM |
Terrestrial and space domain forecasts assist planning and spacecraft anomaly resolution. | Environmental Monitoring |
Includes space-based and terrestrial sensors to support NORAD's mission. Provides warning of a missile attack. | Missile Warning |
In addition to sensors, includes mechanism to convey warning and assessment data to the President, Secretary of Defense, and CCs. | NUDET Detection |
Means by which satellite constellations are sustained and reconstituted. Conducted by all space sectors. Ability to deliver payloads (satellites or other materials) to space. | Spacelift |
Maneuver, configure, operate and sustain on-orbit assets. Sustainment function that ensures all other space capabilities available to support the Joint Force Commander's mission. | Satellite Operations |