Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program

{{Short description|American military space surveillance program}}

File:Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program.jpg

Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP) or Hornet is a class of United States spy satellites.

File:'Team Patrick-Cape' launches GSSAP mission (2000829480).jpg 368 launches GSSAP 1 and 2 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on 2014]]

The first two GSSAP spacecraft , GSSAP 1 (USA-253) and GSSAP 2 (USA-254) were launched in 2014. They were built by Orbital Sciences Corporation; their capabilities and development and construction budgets are classified. They operate in "near-geosynchronous orbit",Neighborhood watch in space, Aviation Week and Space Technology, 4 August 2014, p.12{{cite web|url=http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:343a4a5d-47a2-467f-aae1-8fe5d25a485d|title=USAF Reveals Classified, New Spy Satellite|last1=Butler|first1=Amy|date=21 February 2014|publisher=Aviation Week & Sapce Technology|access-date=21 February 2014|archive-date=26 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226122559/http://www.aviationweek.com/Blogs.aspx?plckBlogId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7&plckPostId=Blog:27ec4a53-dcc8-42d0-bd3a-01329aef79a7Post:343a4a5d-47a2-467f-aae1-8fe5d25a485d|url-status=dead}} The first launch was scheduled for 23 July 2014 aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV launch vehicle.{{cite news|url=http://www.stripes.com/air-force-launching-satellites-to-spy-on-other-satellites-1.294735|title=Air Force launching satellites to spy on other satellites|last1=Harper|first1=Jon|date=22 July 2014|website=stripes.com|publisher=Stars and Stripes|access-date=22 July 2014}} Even during the testing process these satellites were pressed into early service to fulfill critical needs.{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/space-surveillance-sats-pressed-into-early-service/ |title=Space Surveillance Sats Pressed into Early Service|last1=Gruss|first1=Mike|date=18 September 2015|website=spacenews.com|publisher=SpaceNews|access-date=18 September 2015}} In August 2023 the Space Systems Command announced the retirement of the GSSAP-2 satellite, the first of the constellation to be decommissioned, and its subsequent transfer into a graveyard orbit. File:AFSPC6 by United Launch Alliance (28464816573).jpg

GSSAP 3 (USA-270) and 4 (USA-271) satellites were launched on 19 August 2016. On 12 September 2017, both were declared operational.{{cite news|url=http://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1310272/two-new-satellites-now-operational-expand-us-space-situational-awareness/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915184050/http://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1310272/two-new-satellites-now-operational-expand-us-space-situational-awareness/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 15, 2017|title=Two new satellites now operational, expand U.S. space situational awareness|last1=Espinosa|first1=Shellie-Anne|date=13 September 2017|website=afspc.af.mil|publisher=Air Force Space Command Public Affairs|access-date=15 September 2017}} {{PD-notice}} USA-270 approached two Chinese satellites in GEO to examine them more closely.{{Cite web |last=Werner |first=Debra |date=2022-06-16 |title=An In-Orbit Game of Cat and Mouse: Close approaches prompt calls for communications and norms |url=https://spacenews.com/an-in-orbit-game-of-cat-and-mouse-close-approaches-prompt-calls-for-communications-and-norms/ |website=SpaceNews}} In 2023, Chinese researchers reported having observed 13 other instances where US satellites approached Chinese ones.{{Cite web |last=Tamim |first=Baba |date=2023-05-07 |title=US conducted 14 spy missions on China’s satellites in 2 years, claims Chinese study |url=https://interestingengineering.com/culture/us-conducted-14-recon-missions-on-chinas-satellites |website=interestingengineering.com}}File:Atlas V takeoff (7141539).jpeg AV-084 lifts off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, Jan. 21, 2022 with GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6.]]Two more satellites (GSSAP-5 and GSSAP-6) have been successfully launched on 21 January 2022 by a Atlas V launch vehicle.{{cite web |last=Graham |first=William |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2022/01/ussf-satellite-inspection/ |title=ULA's Atlas V launches satellite-inspection mission for Space Force |access-date=22 January 2022 |work=NASASpaceFlight|date=21 January 2022 }}

In August 2023 the Space Systems Command revealed that two more satellites have been ordered to Northrop Grumman to keep up with the demand for GSSAP assets.{{cite web |last=Erwin |first=Sandra |url=https://spacenews.com/u-s-deorbits-gssap-surveillance-satellite-two-new-ones-in-the-works/ |title=U.S. deactivates GSSAP surveillance satellite, two new ones in the works |date=15 August 2023 |access-date=18 August 2023}} The launches of the new satellites were planned for 2024 and 2027 respectively, with the spacecraft being the first of the constellation not to be launched in pairs.{{cite web |last=Hadley |first=Greg |url=https://www.airandspaceforces.com/space-force-deactivates-one-space-surveillance-satellite-sets-plans-for-two-more/ |title=Space Force Deactivates One Space Surveillance Satellite, Sets Plans for Two More |date=17 August 2023 |access-date=18 August 2023 |work=Air & Space Forces Magazine}}

GSSAP 7 and 8 are scheduled to be launched together in 2025 by a Vulcan Centaur VC4S.{{Cite web |title=GSSAP 1, ..., 10 (Hornet 1, ..., 10) |url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/gssap-1.htm |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=Gunter's Space Page |language=en}}{{cite web |title=FY21 NSS Missions |url=https://www.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract/Article/2530911/source/GovDelivery/ |access-date=6 January 2024 |publisher=U.S. Department of Defense}}{{Cite tweet |number=1805225034241237100 |user=GewoonLukas_ |title=The second one will be the USSF-87 mission, which will likely carry the 7th GSSAP satellite directly to Geosynchronous orbit. It currently looks like Vulcan will be flying in the VC2 configuration for this mission, although a VC4 has been previously reported.}} GSSAP 9 and 10 will follow in 2027.