The U.S. Space Force is bolstering its ability to monitor objects in deep space thanks to a recently completed refurbishment of the Space Surveillance Telescope (SST), a key asset located in Western Australia. The upgrade, a collaborative effort with Australia, ensures the telescope remains operational as the space domain becomes increasingly congested and contested, according to L3Harris Technologies.
The SST, capable of tracking objects up to 22,000 miles above Earth, plays a critical role in space domain awareness – the ability to understand what’s happening in orbit. This includes monitoring operational satellites, tracking space debris, and identifying potential threats. Maintaining this capability is increasingly vital as both governmental and commercial activity in space expands, and as potential adversaries develop counter-space capabilities.
The refurbishment, completed by L3Harris technicians, focused on the telescope’s primary and tertiary mirrors. According to Col. Barry Croker, commander of Mission Delta 2, the work included the first-ever recoating of the primary mirror, “significantly improving our ability to detect small targets in GEO (geostationary Earth orbit),” as he stated during the 2025 Advanced Maui Optical and Space Surveillance Technologies Conference. The process involved stripping, cleaning, and recoating the mirrors, as well as structural repairs to ensure optimal performance in a challenging environment.
Strategic Partnership Enhances Space Monitoring
The Space Surveillance Telescope represents a significant component of the U.S.-Australia partnership in space situational awareness. Originally relocated from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico in 2017 and declared fully operational in 2022, the Australian Department of Defence confirmed the telescope supports the U.S., its allies, and global partners. This collaboration highlights the growing importance of international cooperation in safeguarding space-based assets.
Unlike satellites, which have limited lifespans and can degrade over time, ground-based systems like the SST can be upgraded and maintained, offering a long-term strategic advantage. This is particularly important as space becomes an increasingly vital arena for national security and economic activity.
L3Harris Contract Supports Broader Space Surveillance Network
The mirror refurbishment is part of a larger effort to modernize and maintain U.S. Space surveillance systems. L3Harris Technologies recently secured a $62.7 million contract extension to support these efforts, bringing the total value of the Maintenance of Space Situational Awareness Integrated Capabilities (MOSSAIC) program to $1.5 billion, according to the Colorado Gazette. The MOSSAIC program supports space surveillance and command centers in Colorado, California, and Virginia.
This contract also covers maintenance and upgrades for two other key space surveillance sensors: the AN/FPS-85 radar at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida – described as the world’s most powerful phased-array radar capable of tracking objects up to 22,000 nautical miles above Earth – and the Ground-based Electro Optical Deep Space Surveillance Telescope (GEODSS) at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, as detailed by Military Aerospace Electronics.
Jeff Hanke, President of Space Systems at L3Harris, emphasized the importance of the SST, stating, “SST is a cornerstone capability for protecting the nation’s space assets…This milestone ensures Space Force operators continue to receive the precise, reliable sensor performance they need to detect threats, avoid collisions and defend the space infrastructure our military, economy, and citizens depend on.”
With over 50 years of experience in advanced electro-optical systems, L3Harris has a proven track record, having contributed optics to more than 200 orbital missions.
Looking ahead, continued investment in space domain awareness capabilities, like the SST, will be crucial for maintaining a secure and sustainable space environment. The ongoing MOSSAIC program and collaborative efforts with allies like Australia demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding critical space-based infrastructure.
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