AUGUST 4, 2025 – U.S. Space Force Space Operations Command, in partnership with U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command, approved the operational acceptance of a milestone upgrade to the Ground-Based Optical Sensor System 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 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 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 U.S. Space Force’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 U.S. Space Force’s Space Surveillance Network 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. “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.
By Space Operations Command Public Affairs