The outer space control system (SKPP) is a special strategic system, the main task of which is to monitor artificial earth satellites and other space objects. This system is now part of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces and maintains the Main Catalog of Space Objects. The SKKP is designed to provide information support for Russia's space activities and counteract the space reconnaissance means of our potential adversaries, as well as assess the danger of the space situation and bring all this information to the end user.
It should be noted that a new era has begun with the launch of the first artificial Earth satellite in the history of mankind. Quite quickly, the progressive world community realized that the use of outer space opens up new, previously unprecedented horizons for solving a wide range of research, economic and military-applied problems. Space exploration in the foreseeable future opened up the opportunity for earthlings to control the actions of various countries and international organizations in outer space.
The leading powers quickly realized this, and work on the creation and design of radar (decimeter and meter ranges), radio engineering, optoelectronic, optical and laser means of tracking outer space were deployed in the USSR, the USA and China already in the mid-1950s. The countries tried to pay great attention to works of a military-applied nature. Therefore, comprehensive studies were carried out on the likelihood of active counteraction to the enemy both in space and from space. In the USSR, missile attack warning devices (PRN) of anti-missile (ABM) and anti-space defense (PKO) were consistently put into operation. To provide information support for their joint activities, the Outer Space Control Service (SCS) was created, the main tasks of which were solved in the Outer Space Control Center (CCS), specially created for these purposes.
Special connection
Until 1988, the Outer Space Control System included the Outer Space Control Center (OSCC), in which a catalog of detected and tracked space bodies and systems was created and maintained in full order. The CCMT carried out processing of incoming information, combining nontrajectory and trajectory data from various sources of information in order to determine the exact parameters of recognition and motion of space systems and objects. In recent years, the CKKP has gone through the 2nd modernization of the hardware complex (VC "Elbrus-1" and VC "Elbrus-2"), as well as associated algorithmic systems. In addition, the system includes new radio-technical, radar, optical means of detection and recognition of high-orbit and low-orbit space objects, as well as objects located in geostationary orbit.
By the early 1990s, it had become quite clear that the existing control system required its own organizational design. The TsKKP, which at that time constituted the backbone of the JKKP, had neither the capacity nor the forces to manage such a diversified system with the deployment of its own funds on the vast territory of the state. It became necessary to create a special connection. At the same time, work began on the formation of the outer space control corps (KKP), as well as anti-space defense (PKO) as part of the USSR air defense forces. By the directive of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union of June 17, 1988, the staff of the headquarters and management of the KKP and PKO corps was approved. The structure of the created compound included a command post, a central command center, as well as specialized optoelectronic and radar surveillance equipment and anti-space defense equipment.
Transformations
The first commander of the formation was Colonel A. I. Suslov, who later rose to the rank of lieutenant general. This compound can be considered unique both in solving the tasks assigned to it, and in the composition of the various means used in it. The division is engaged in information support for the solution of some combat missions with anti-space and anti-missile defense systems. At the same time, special attention is paid to issues related to ensuring the launch of Russian spacecraft (SC), as well as assessing the situation along the flight path, the safety of an orbital flight, warning of possible dangerous encounters with any space objects. Timely informing important military facilities and military units about the overflights of foreign reconnaissance satellites, which makes it possible to ensure the secrecy of the implementation of many important work to increase the defense capability of Russia.
Subsequently, the corps was transformed into a separate division of the KKP, which became part of the rocket and space defense army. In the course of the reform, the compound was transformed into the GC RKO - the Main Center for the Intelligence of the Space Situation. In the past few years, this unit has managed to replenish its own space control facilities, as well as to strengthen information interaction with other parts of the aerospace defense forces, in particular with radar systems for anti-missile defense and missile attack warning systems. Currently, the GC RSC includes:
- KP, associated with consumers and sources of information SKKP;
- optical-electronic complex "Window", located on the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan, consisting of 2 tracking stations, 4 detection stations, as well as a command and computer center;
- ROKR - radio-optical reconnaissance complex for low-orbit space objects "Krona", located in the North Caucasus as part of a centimeter-range radar, a decimeter-range radar and a command and computing center;
- radio-technical complex for control of emitting spacecraft "Moment", located in the Moscow region.
Also, the structure of the interacting information means of the KKP system includes radars "Volga", "Daryal", "Dnepr", "Danube-ZU", multifunctional missile defense radar "Don-2N" stations "Sazhen-T" and "Sazhen-S" (in the process of debugging interaction).
Brain center
GC RKO is a center for understanding the processes that take place in space. The role of this center especially increases in case of emergencies in orbit, when any Russian spacecraft is in distress. In this case, no one, with the exception of the KKP compound, is able to accurately inform where the spacecraft is located and how it behaves in near-earth orbit. Since its adoption, the Central Command Control Center has demonstrated its high level of efficiency.
At one time, the SKKP discovered the American shuttle and Chinese artificial earth satellites of the Chikom series, the first experiments within the Delta-180 SDI program, and provided control of the tests of the American ASAT anti-satellite system. With its help, the areas of the crash of the Kosmos-1402 spacecraft in the Atlantic Ocean near the Ascension Island on February 7, 1983 and the Kosmos-954 spacecraft with a nuclear installation on board on January 24, 1978 in a deserted area in Canada were determined. In 1985, with the help of information received from the SKKP, a domestic transport ship Soyuz T-13 with cosmonauts Savinykh and Dzhanibekov on board was brought to the Salyut-13 multi-ton space station, which was doomed to fall with unpredictable consequences. As a result, the station was saved. Also, the SKKP with the means of connection was working on the safe flooding of the Mir station.
The government of the country highly appreciates the work of the personnel of the units of the formation. Over the years, more than 200 people were awarded orders and medals of the USSR, and then Russia. Also, the Central Committee of the Commission was awarded the pennant of the Minister of Defense of the USSR "For Courage and Military Valor." The units of the formation were awarded with challenge banners many times, were noted by the leadership of the armed forces as the best in the services of the country's Armed Forces.
The Main Center for Space Situation Reconnaissance is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the conditions of its further improvement. In the near future, the Main Center should include new promising observation means (both optoelectronic and radiotechnical). With the commissioning of the Voronezh-type radar network, the flow of orbital measurements from the Main Missile Attack Warning Center will significantly increase, which in turn will require the modernization of the algorithmic system, as well as the massive use of new computing facilities, including more powerful PCs. Nowadays, the GC RKO continues to exercise control over outer space, solving the combat mission assigned to it, and also being one of the most advanced formations of the VKO Troops.
Prospects for Russian space reconnaissance
By 2020, Russia is going to build 4 new SKKP stations, which will allow the military to create a catalog of space objects that surpasses the similar American catalog created by NORAD. True, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation is not going to open this catalog to the general public for the time being. 2 new space control stations will be ready by 2016, they will be built in the Moscow region and the Far East, 2 more stations will be ready by 2020 - in Siberia and the Urals. Colonel Anatoly Nestechuk, head of the Main Outer Space Control Center of the Russian Aerospace Defense Forces, told the journalists about this.
Currently, the NORAD catalog contains about 15 thousand objects, while the Russian main catalog contains only 12 thousand. At the same time, the Americans are able to detect objects 15 cm in size in space, while their Russian counterparts are at least 20 cm in size. Twice a year, specialists from the two countries exchange catalog data with each other, clarifying information and checking lists; they have no secrets in this matter. Today, the military is greatly assisted by modern computer technology, which has been completely modernized in recent years. In particular, it provides the ability to expand the existing catalog up to 30 thousand objects.
At present, the number of Russian stations that control outer space, laser-optical, radio-technical and optical-electronic, is inferior to the US system. But by 2020, with the commissioning of 4 new stations, the Russian military expects to establish permanent control over the near-earth space in "all inclinations and all heights." At the same time, Nestechuk told reporters that seeing objects from 10 cm or less is a very significant problem both for us and for the Americans. Speaking about the prospects for Russia, he noted that as part of the development of the SKKP until 2020, new specialized space monitoring means will be built, which will allow tracking small-sized space debris and modernizing existing complexes. The newly built and modernized stations will allow monitoring objects already 10 cm in size, which will significantly increase the possibilities for maintaining the Main Catalog of Space Objects.
