MSX design driven by targets and backgrounds

Abstract

A suite of state-of-the-art sensors, including a cryogenic infrared scanning radiometer and Fourier-transform spectrometer, several visible and ultraviolet imagers and spectrographic imagers, and a set of contamination monitoring instruments, integrated with a highly capable spacecraft, was launched into a polar orbit on April 24, 1996. The optical sensors cover the spectrum from the far ultraviolet through the very-longwave infrared (110 nm to 28 jim). The Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) satellite, funded and managed by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), is a long-duration, observatory style measurement platform that will collect almost two terabytes of high-quality data on Earth, earthlimb, and celestial backgrounds, ICBMstyle targets and resident space objects. The requirements for demonstrating space-based surveillance, acquisition, tracking, and discrimination of ballistic reentry vehicles and penetration aids form the basis for the design of the MSX satellite and sensors. MSX is presently performing four data collection events per day, principally in the areas of earth, earthlimb, and celestial backgrounds. Successful target measurements have been performed on several ballistic launches. A large number of successful space surveillance experiments have been performed. This paper summarizes the goals and design of the spacecraft and sensors.