US military ends long-running program to spot nuclear missile launches
Summary
The US Space Force has officially ended the Defense Support Program (DSP), a satellite system that helped detect missile launches for over 55 years. The program’s last two satellites were moved to higher orbits in September 2023, marking the retirement of a key Cold War-era early warning system.Key Facts
- The Defense Support Program began in 1970 with satellites that carried infrared detectors to spot missile launches.
- These satellites operated in geosynchronous orbit, watching for nuclear missile and other launches worldwide.
- DSP satellites played a major role during the Cold War and conflicts such as the Gulf War by detecting missile threats.
- Over time, the satellites grew more advanced, with later models carrying over 6,000 detectors and weighing about 2.5 tons.
- The final DSP satellites, launched between 2007 and 2009, were retired in September 2023 after maneuvering into graveyard orbits.
- The program’s end follows the introduction of more advanced US military satellites, like the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), which began launching in 2011.
- SBIRS satellites use improved sensors to detect dimmer missile launches and provide longer warning times.
- The launch sites for DSP satellites have evolved from Titan rockets to newer platforms like the Space Shuttle and SpaceX.
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