Space Systems and Technology

We develop technology to meet the challenges of an increasingly congested and contested space domain. Our engineers design, prototype, operate, and assess systems that detect, track, identify, and characterize resident space objects. Given the potential for conventional conflict to extend to space, we conduct R&D on concepts and systems that will provide space mission resilience.

Space Control - Ensuring critical U.S. space activities

Advanced Capabilities and Technologies
Advanced Sensors and Techniques
Applied Space Systems
Information Integration and Decision Support
Integrated Systems and Concepts
Space Systems Analysis and Test

We research and develop technology for advanced satellite systems that are used to monitor the activity of objects in space and to perform remote sensing of Earth.

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an image from a satellite taken of earth; antarctica at the bottom is colored blue, and color ranges through yellow, orange, and red up near the equator

In the Media

NASA’s TROPICS Pathfinder satellite produces global first light images and captures Hurricane Ida

Sep 13

NASA

A small satelitte photographed against a white background. About , about 10 cm X 10 cm X 36 cm in size, it consists of a small solar panel array, connected to the satellite bus standing upright, topped with a golden cube.

Pathfinder satellite paves way for constellation of tropical-storm observers

Jun 30

Six small satllite buses (about size of loaf of bread) are photographed against a white background.

In the Media

Tiny satellites could help warn of the next big hurricane

Jun 27

Wired

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Imagery from the GOES-16 Advanced Baseline Imager

environmental monitoring

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series

The Laboratory's long-term collaboration with NOAA and NASA on environmental monitoring satellites has led to revolutionized weather imagery and products and improved detection for space and solar phenomena.

space situational awareness

Haystack Ultrawideband Satellite Imaging Radar

Lincoln Laboratory created the world's highest-resolution radar for imaging of space objects in support of space situational awareness.

The MASIVS sensor uses four focal planes.

surveillance

Multi-Aperture Sparse Imager Video System

An airborne system provides high-resolution wide-area video imagery and onboard data processing to enable real-time monitoring of suspicious human activity.

For installation aboard a launch vehicle, a space telescope using technology developed for DISCIT will fold up into the compact shape seen at the left, but will expand its segmented sparse subapertures, right, once deployed.

integrated systems

Deployable In-Space Coherent Imaging Telescope

Technologies enabling the deployment of an expandable telescope from a small spacecraft could pave the way for the development of other payloads for small satellites.

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It’s a satisfying feeling to know you were part of the team that helped fix an issue.

Noah Stein

Technician

Space Systems and Technology

Advanced Sensors and Techniques

A photograph of Noah Stein standing in front of a radar.

“I can't help getting deep into a difficult problem — and the fact that I'm working on real-world space problems for the benefit of national security makes it that much more rewarding to me.

Rafael Monardez

Orbital Analyst

Space Systems and Technology

Advanced Sensors and Techniques

The Lab has this rare mix of focus on technical excellence, innovation, and work-life balance that really pushes me to flourish in my career and as a person.

Andres Sisneros

Signal Processing Engineer

Space Systems and Technology

Advanced Sensors and Techniques

The Laboratory is full of people smarter than me. I love being able to learn from colleagues and come up with creative, collaborative designs that I'm sure I wouldn't have been able to get to alone.