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WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE, N.M. – Astrophotography showcasing the Ground-based Electrical Optical Deep Space Surveillance facility, or GEODSS, operated by the 15th Space Surveillance Squadron, Detachment 1, at the White Sands Missile Range, N.M., captured Aug. 25, 2022. The 15th SPSS is comprised of a blended organizational structure with assigned personnel from Space Operations Command and the Air Force Research Laboratory. (U.S Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Kaitlin Castillo)

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Milestone sensor upgrade enhances U.S. Space Force identifying, tracking capability

Published July 31, 2025
By Space Operations Command Public Affairs

PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. -- U.S. Space Force (USSF) Space Operations Command (SpOC), in partnership with USSF Space Systems Command (SSC), approved the operational acceptance of a milestone upgrade to the Ground-Based Optical Sensor System (GBOSS) at the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance site in White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. SpOC is now in the integrated testing phase of an upgrade to its Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) site in Maui, which will upgrade to GBOSS upon operational acceptance.

The Space Force continues to invest in capabilities like GBOSS to advance Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities that offer timely, relevant, and actionable understanding of the operational environment that allows military forces to plan, integrate, execute, and assess space operations. GBOSS improves on the USSF’s ability to map the space operating environment for Guardians to conduct defensive and offensive operations in response to threats and close protect and defend kill chains.

“The GBOSS upgrade represents a leap forward in capability for the joint warfighter,” said U.S. Space Force Colonel Barry Croker, Commander of SpOC Mission Delta 2 – Space Domain Awareness. “This upgrade further enhances the SDA data Mission Delta 2 Guardians provide to inform decision making, orient fires, and enable maneuvers across all military service domains.”

Weapon system modernization is a top priority for SpOC and SSC. These changes were necessary to upgrade critical capabilities that have existed on site since the 1980’s. To continue to meet the USSF’s Space Surveillance Network (SSN) mission needs, GBOSS was built to increase SDA by more accurately identifying and tracking objects in space. The upgrade not only improves search and revisit rates, capacity, and sensitivity, but it also furthers integration with commercial data to more rapidly address SDA requirements while lowering sustainment costs.

"Space Systems Command is excited to deliver the first system upgrade under the GBOSS program,” said Ms. Shannon Pallone, SSC Program Executive Officer for Battle Management, Command, Control, Communication, and Space Intelligence (BMC3I). “The small team, comprised of acquirers, operators, and contractors, demonstrated a strong technical understanding of requirements, skillful program management, and seamless execution of this major system upgrade. We look forward to another seamless installation in Maui."

Ground-based optical sensors play a vital role in detecting and tracking objects at altitudes above 10,000 kilometers above Earth.

The Space Force continues to invest in capabilities like GBOSS to advance space domain awareness capabilities that offer timely, relevant, and actionable understanding of the operational environment that allows military forces to plan, integrate, execute, and assess space operations.

About SpOC

Space Operations Command is the U.S. Space Force’s service force provider, focused on generating combat-ready Space forces, sourcing and providing forces for service and combatant commands, and advocating for combat-ready space power from the future force to fielded forces. SpOC encompasses eight distinct, but integrated mission and space deltas focused on Space Domain Awareness; Space Electromagnetic Warfare; Missile Warning and Tracking; Cyberspace Warfare; Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Targeting; Satellite Communications; Orbital Warfare; and Navigational Warfare.

About SSC

Space Systems Command is the U.S. Space Force field command responsible for acquiring, developing, and delivering resilient capabilities to outpace emerging threats and protect our Nation’s strategic advantage in, from, and to space. SSC manages a $15.6 billion annual space acquisition budget for the Department of Defense, working with joint forces, industry partners, government agencies, academia, and allied nations. For more information, visit ssc.spaceforce.mil and follow @USSF-SSC on LinkedIn.

For more on Mission Delta 2, view the fact sheet HERE.

For questions and further information, please contact SpOC Media Operations at 719-554-3731 or e-mail spoc.pa.media@spaceforce.mil. Get the latest Space Operations Command news at https://www.spoc.spaceforce.mil, on Facebook, or on LinkedIn.

Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding SSC by sending an e-mail to sscpa.media@spaceforce.mil

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