Russia and Early Warning Systems
The Soviet early warning satellite program did not officially begin until the early 1970's under the leadership of Academician Anatoli Savin (now the General Designer and General Director of the Kometa Central Scientific Production Association). The Scientific Supervisor of the project was M. M. Miroshnikov of the Vavilov State Optics Institute, which led to the program sometimes being referred to as Project M (for Miroshnikov). Without extensive Earth observational data in the portions of the electromagnetic spectrum of interest, Soviet designers selected for evaluation three basic types of sensors which might be capable of detecting and tracking a ballistic missile during powered flight. Vidicon tubes sensitive to the near infrared and the ultraviolet were tested for the first-generation system, and infrared solid-state detectors with a mechanical scanner were viewed as a logical improvement for a second-generation spacecraft (Reference 86).
An inability to detect missile engine plumes against the natural background of the Earth led to a decision which directly affected the design of the satellite and the orbital characteristics of the subsequent constellation. Sensors would be positioned to concentrate surveillance on a region just above the Earth's limb in the vicinity of anticipated ballistic missile launches, i.e., American and Chinese ICBM silos. This requirement in turn made highly elliptical, inclined orbits (of the Molniya class) more attractive than geostationary orbits, which the USSR had yet to exploit.
SOVIET MILITARY SPACE ACTIVITIES
By Charles S. Sheldon II*
1971-1975
VII. EARLY WARNING MILITARY SATELLITES
A special kind of detection satellite which senses and transmits electromagnetic signals is the early warning class for either nuclear explosions or missile launchings. These functions could be combined.
The United States over several years launched a number of Vela Hotel payloads which were put at a high circular orbit about 100,000 kilometers above the surface. They were calibrated to look for the kinds of frequencies associated with the initial burst of radiation from nuclear explosions such as gamma rays, neutrons, or infrared, whether occurring at the surface, in the atmosphere, or in space. They also kept track of solar and other sources of similar radiation, so that they could recognize the difference between natural phenomena and those triggered by men.
The United States also started a series of Midas flights which were in about 3,500 kilometer circular orbit above the Earth to watch for the infrared signals of rocket exhausts as launches rose from the Earth, particularly above clouds. Later, several other classes of U.S. warning satellites were put up at about 36,000 kilometers circular and synchronous orbit, either over the Equator, or inclined so as to trace a figure-8 pattern near a particular longitude. Some of these payloads were pictured as having an angled sensor system. Presumably such payloads keep watch not only on Eurasia where missile launching silos are located, but on ocean areas which might be the sites for submarine-launched missiles as well.
One assumes that data in various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum as appropriate to what is being watched for are scanned and sensed by these satellites, with results transmitted in such a form that computers can distinguish between spurious signals and the kind guarded against, and that data also permit the rapid calculation of trajectories in the case of missile or space launchings. If so, such signals may give close to instantaneous warning of new launchings or of nuclear explosions and this information constitutes in some cases an earlier warning than might be developed through a BMEWS radar or a seismic or acoustic wave sensor.
Since U.S. interest has been translated into flight hardware, one assumes the Soviet Union has similar protective interests and has examined these technical possibilities and perhaps put such satellites into service. This would be consistent with their also heavy investment in air defense and missile defense systems on home territory.
References:
A. SOVIET SPACE PROGRAMS, 1971-75, OVERVIEW, FACILITIES AND HARDWARE MANNED AND UNMANNED FLIGHT PROGRAMS, BIOASTRONAUTICS CIVIL AND MILITARY APPLICATIONS PROJECTIONS OF FUTURE PLANS, STAFF REPORT , THE COMMITTEE ON AERONAUTICAL AND SPACE .SCIENCES, UNITED STATES SENATE, BY THE SCIENCE POLICY RESEARCH DIVISION CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE, THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, VOLUME – I, AUGUST 30, 1976, GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1976,
* Dr. Sheldon, is Chief, Science Policy Research Division, Congressional Research Service, The Library of Congress.
