Thank you very much for visiting Gunter's Space Page. I hope that this site is useful and informative for you.
If you appreciate the information provided on this site, please consider supporting my work by making a simple and secure donation via PayPal. Please help to run the website and keep everything free of charge. Thank you very much.
GSSAP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 (Hornet 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
GSSAP [USAF]
GSSAP (Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program) or Hornet is a series of space surveillance satellites developed covertly by the Air Force and Orbital Sciences to provide a space-based capability operating in the near-geosynchronous orbit regime supporting U.S. Strategic Command space surveillance operations as a dedicated Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensor.
Accourding to USAF officials, the GSSAP satellites will drift above and below the GEO belt, using electro-optical sensors to collect information on satellites and other objects in that region. The satellites are maneuverable, allowing them to collect intelligence on specific target satellites. GSSAP provides “accurate tracking and characterization” of satellites.
The first pair of GSSAP spacecraft was launched in 2014 from Cape Canaveral on board of a Delta-4M+(4,2) rocket with another pair following in 2016. A third pair was launched in 2020. A fourth pair has been ordered in 2023.
| Nation: | USA |
|---|---|
| Type / Application: | Space surveillance |
| Operator: | US Air Force (USAF) → US Space Force (USSF) |
| Contractors: | Orbital Sciences Corp. (OSC) |
| Equipment: | |
| Configuration: | GeoStar-1 |
| Propulsion: | ? |
| Power: | 2 deployable solar arrays, batteries |
| Lifetime: | 6 years |
| Mass: | |
| Orbit: | 35800 km × 35900 km, 0.50° (#1, 2); 35752 km × 35819 km, 0.00° (#3); 35791 km × 35874 km, 0.02° (#4) |
| Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GSSAP 1 (Hornet 1, USA 253, AFSPC 4) | 2014-043A | 28.07.2014 | CC SLC-37B | Delta-4M+(4,2) | with GSSAP 2, ANGELS | |
| GSSAP 2 (Hornet 2, USA 254, AFSPC 4) | 2014-043B | 28.07.2014 | CC SLC-37B | Delta-4M+(4,2) | with GSSAP 1, ANGELS | |
| GSSAP 3 (Hornet 3, USA 270, AFSPC 6) | 2016-052A | 19.08.2016 | CC SLC-37B | Delta-4M+(4,2) (upg.) | with GSSAP 4 | |
| GSSAP 4 (Hornet 4, USA 271, AFSPC 6) | 2016-052B | 19.08.2016 | CC SLC-37B | Delta-4M+(4,2) (upg.) | with GSSAP 3 | |
| GSSAP 5 (Hornet 5, USA 324, USSF 8, AFSPC 8) | 2022-006A | 21.01.2022 | CC SLC-41 | Atlas-5(511)² | with GSSAP 6 | |
| GSSAP 6 (Hornet 6, USA 325, USSF 8, AFSPC 8) | 2022-006B | 21.01.2022 | CC SLC-41 | Atlas-5(511)² | with GSSAP 5 | |
| GSSAP 7 (Hornet 7) | - | 202x | CC | with GSSAP 8 | ||
| GSSAP 8 (Hornet 8) | - | 202x | CC | with GSSAP 7 |
References:
- Air Force Space Command: Fact Sheets - Geosynchronous Space Situational Awareness Program (GSSAP)
- Amy Butler in Aviation Week: USAF Space Chief Outs Classified Spy Sat Program, 20 February 2014
