Space professionals at Air Force Space Command recently marked the two-year anniversary of the launch of the Tactical Satellite 3 and its primary payload ARTEMIS, the Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer sensor.

TacSat-3 continues to exceed its expected lifespan. It was originally designed and launched as an experimental satellite May 19, 2009. Due to its longevity and potential to provide operational support to the warfighter, it transitioned to an operational asset June 12, 2010. It is not known how long the satellite will be functional.

TacSat-3 is the first on-orbit Department of Defense intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability delivered to U.S. Strategic Command for their direct imagery support to worldwide combatant commanders. TacSat-3 complements the wide array of Intelligence Community Combat Support Agencies and other space-based ISR systems which provide information to warfighters.

"Tactical Satellite 3 has far exceeded expectations in both its superior imaging performance and in its operational service life," said Col. John Kress, Chief of the Missile Warning, Missile Defense and Surveillance Operations Division at AFSPC.

"TacSat-3's unique hyperspectral imaging capability continues to provide valuable information to combatant commanders."

When compared to traditional imagery, hyperspectral data provides unique information regarding the objects imaged. For example, the hyperspectral information can help recognize types of metal and concrete and can often distinguish between man-made and natural materials. The information can be used in identifying evidence of roadside bombs by analyzing spectral signatures of ground features or objects, including freshly-moved dirt or specific kinds of metals.

It can even help identify materials associated uniquely with military equipment or detect the presence of specific chemicals. This increases warfighters' understanding of their area of operations, including adversary activities, intent and what risks may exist in conducting operations.

"TacSat-3 is a true success in bringing specialized space-based sensor information to key decision-makers, rapidly and efficiently, directly supporting combatant commanders worldwide," Colonel Kress said.

"It's a trailblazer for the Operational Responsive Space program, and lessons learned from TacSat-3 will be applied to other, similar systems in the future."

Since TacSat-3 operations acceptance, AFSPC has worked to quicken the "sensor tasking to product dissemination" process for delivering actionable information to the warfighter.

The TacSat-3 capability produces approximately 100 hyperspectral imagery (HSI) products per month, delivering key intelligence in hours-to-days after sensor tasking, 10 times faster than was done during the original experimental phase. TacSat-3 continues to push the envelope for providing space-based, tactical HSI to the warfighter.

The TacSat-3 operators at the 1st Space Operations Squadron at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., execute the overhead HSI collections in partnership with the Space and Missile Systems Center Research, Development, Test and Evaluation Support Complex at Kirtland AFB, N.M., which uplinks specific taskings and other supporting commands to the satellite.