WASHINGTON -- Since 1992, American and Russian scientists have been quietly sketching out a space-based missile watching satellite system. This cooperative project may take on more urgency given U.S. terrorist attacks and the White House stay-the-course attitude in working on anti-ballistic missile defensive measures.
The joint satellite project is tagged the Russian-American Observation Satellite, or RAMOS for short.
As a two-satellite system, RAMOS could play a part in a much larger, multi-layered ground, air, and space mix of hardware that would track, target, and destroy hostile missiles.
Dual objectives
RAMOS has both defense and environmental objectives.
In a defensive mode, the satellites can use infrared sensors to spot rocket launches. Equipment onboard the spacecraft can also support hurricane prediction, meteorological forecasting, as well as monitor environmental disasters and degradation of the biosphere.
The RAMOS program is the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization's (BMDO) "most significant cooperative effort with Russia," said Air Force Lieutenant General Ronald Kadish, Director of the BMDO at the Pentagon. During testimony to Congress last year, Kadish said that RAMOS is a "confidence-building" effort with Russia.
BMDO budget documents this year label RAMOS as an innovative U.S.-Russian space-based remote sensor research and development program "addressing ballistic missile defense and national security."
Early experiments
The program engages Russian developers of that country's early warning satellites. Both nations have already carried out experiments to help scope out the RAMOS system. American and Russian satellites, including aircraft from the two countries have performed sets of experiments between 1995 and 1999.
The U.S. Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) and the Miniature Sensor Technology Integration (MSTI-3) satellites worked in tandem with a Russian RESURS 01 satellite. This trio of spacecraft collected near simultaneous data of the Earth. Additionally, Russian and American sensors were flown aboard the U.S. Flying Infrared Signatures Technology Aircraft (FISTA). By flying the high-tech gear on FISTA, the ability to jointly plan, execute, and analyze RAMOS type experiments was demonstrated.
Current plans call for Russia to provide the launch capability, satellite platforms, and the ground processing and control equipment for RAMOS. The United States will provide the infrared sensors. Government-to-government talks have been initiated to detail how best to split up the work on RAMOS.
Conceptually and design wise, the RAMOS project remains on track, a BMDO source told SPACE.com.
Next page: Schedule and costs
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