The "Space Fence" shut down 1st September 2013... Why?

Space Fence is a net-centric sensor that can detect small objects in low and medium Earth orbit. It can help to avoid collisions with space debris, to track and catalogue satellites and unknown objects from outer space.



www.spaceweather.com...
Therefore the planet Earth is at the mercy of the events…. and if until now, meteorites, asteroids comets and the unknown objects were under observation, now we have the certainty that the danger from the space will be still more threatening than like it was some weeks ago.
But a question come to my mind: Why Shut Down the "Space Fence" one month before (1st October) the USA Shutdown?

Aliens made em shut it off...

What?

Somehow I think you attribute a lot more to this than it offered.

If we were ever at the mercy of space, we are still at the mercy of space, and no amount of looking at it, will change that.

Seeing a big rock hurtling towards us will not make it any less go bang when it hits us, and bruce willis and co will not be able to do anything about it.

Apart from that, looking into a very dark room full of blow flies and trying to spot the housefly, is rather pointless. you may look as much as you like and still never see it.

I'm not sure why they shut it down but I rather liked the idea of its existence. This country is so shamefully broke however we'll be seeing more excuses crop up to shut down more things most likely. But things like this was useful to the whole globe in the study of space debris so that's a downer.

The article I read here in AZ, said it was funding, but that a newer one is going to be built in a few years?
Makes no sense. Cant not afford this one, but we have a newer one coming ? Meanwhile, there is nothing

Arken
But a question come to my mind: Why Shut Down the "Space Fence"

According to the two other threads currently running on this same topic, it was because of budget cuts (the USA is bankrupt, remember) and the fact that it isnt the only satellite tracking system around.


www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

alfa1

Arken
But a question come to my mind: Why Shut Down the "Space Fence"

According to the two other threads currently running on this same topic, it was because of budget cuts (the USA is bankrupt, remember) and the fact that it isnt the only satellite tracking system around.


www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

You miss to quote

one month before (1st October) the USA Shutdown?

reply to post by Arken


Space Fence Solution: International Collaboration

Several established space powers, including India, have a range of technologies set in place to detect and trace objects in space. Russia has the second-largest network of radars and sensors, providing a catalog of space objects. As of now, Russia, through bilateral agreements, collaborates with some of the Central Asian countries where it has located its space surveillance systems. The Russian Space Surveillance System comprises mostly phased array radars and some dedicated radars and optical telescopes.

Europe has sufficient numbers of radars and networks to monitor space objects although they are not nearly as comprehensive as the U.S. or Russian systems. The European effort is also not a coordinated one at this instance given that it is run and operated by only a few countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Norway. In 2008, Europe initiated the SSA Preparatory Programme for creating a European Space Surveillance Network, and it has received support from a number of European countries. Most recently, in March, the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union (EU), launched a new initiative to track and monitor space debris. While many European countries have national systems, radars or telescopes for tracking satellites and space debris, most of the European satellite operators have been relying on the U.S. space surveillance and tracking information. With this new initiative, the EU plans to combine all the different networks to track satellites and debris.

Another example of international cooperation in creating SSA is the International Scientific Optical Network — a collaboration between scientific and academic institutions with 20 observatories in 10 countries for tracking objects in space, instituted by the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. The Space Data Association, a grouping of commercial entities, also has a good network in this regard. It operates an automated SSA system that aims to reduce the risk of collisions and radio frequency interference. Its members currently include government and private satellite operators such as NASA, Avanti Communications, Arabsat and Telesat. The costs incurred are shared by participants and therefore reduce individual costs; this particularly could be useful given the tight budgets under which most agencies are operating.

India too possesses a wide array of ground-based tracking facilities. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Tracking and Command Network of ground stations across India offers critical support for India’s space missions and operations. Additionally, the Indian Deep Space Network provides operational assistance to ISRO and other space agencies, and India’s two Swordfish tracking radars have the ability to track activities in space.

All of these cooperative arrangements increase security in space, but a global network for monitoring space would only contribute more toward this goal. It is beyond a single state’s capacity to monitor all activities that could threaten assets in outer space. This is why international cooperation will be crucial to prevent accidental collisions and to predict events such as the recent Chelyabinsk incident. There is a need for countries to come together and create a mechanism for sharing the information they collect about the space environment for improving security and minimizing threats in outer space.

www.spacenews.com...

Arken
You miss to quote
one month before (1st October) the USA Shutdown?

What makes you think there's any connection at all?
The "sequestration" thing has been going on for quite some time, and the shutdown was reported long before it was declared there would be this "government shutdown".

reply to post by Arken


It doesn't matter, it's still budgetary related. The new Fiscal year started October 1st, but the Air Force had to choose between a radar system, and actually doing their job, and getting their 17 grounded squadrons back into the air and actually, you know, flying.

They chose to do what their mission says, and you know, fly. That means that they had to cut programs to save money and put towards, you know, flying. Space Fence was one of those programs. Which turned out to be a good thing instead of waiting for the new Fiscal Year, which would have really screwed them.

reply to post by Arken


Were preparing for whats inevitable

reply to post by Arken


Planet Earth has been at the mercy of the universe for around 4.5 billion years and we are still here, I really don't think Space Fence would have made much difference if there was an event. Chances are it's simply become obsolete. They probably have new and better toys deployed that they just don't want to share with joe public.

Star for bringing it to our attention.

andy06shake
Planet Earth has been at the mercy of the universe for around 4.5 billion years and we are still here, I really don't think Space Fence would have made much difference ...

Contrary to what was said in the opening post...

...and unknown objects from outer space. ... meteorites, asteroids comets and the unknown objects ... danger from the space ...

...the reality is that the "space fence" was only monitoring the positions of satellites in low earth orbit.

reply to post by Arken


Everyone is caught up in the political drama (as it was meant to be) and are not paying much attention to the magicians other hand.

reply to post by Staroth


And what exactly would Space Fence do? It doesn't even reach Geosynchronous orbit.

So Sept. 1, space fence shut down, last night 60 minute story on space rock danger (CBS), this morning NBC stories on space rock dangers.
Neither story mentions space fence shut down.
But here's the interesting point to me, scheduling, filming and editing the 60 minute story had to have begun before the space fence shut down.
Appears to be part of a plan?
How do you get funding for next generation space surveillance system?
How about shutting down your functioning tracking system just as your bus sized satellite (gravity measuring) is about to drop and then claim the need?
This is how it's done all the time ????


Both CBS & NBC made big deal about NASA finding out about Russian meteor from twitter.

reply to post by donlashway


By the time Space Fence would have seen anything it would have been way to late anyway. It was designed to track satellites in low earth orbit not look for asteroids. It only had a range of about 23,000 miles.

The system was shut down because the technology is obsolete. We (the US) possess much more advanced space radar systems.