The initial $5 million award -- known as Deep STARE -- from the Air Force's Electronic Systems Center funds design, development and demonstration of a prototype of the upgraded system.

The Ground-Based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance System (GEODSS) tracks satellites orbiting at altitudes above 22,000 miles, beyond where most radars can see. It reports information about the position of U.S. and foreign satellites back to the Air Force and U.S. Space Commands.

"A major upgrade included in this contract will be an advanced camera system so the Air Force can track dimmer objects in space more precisely," said Dr. Robert Strickler, vice president and general manager, TRW Space & Missile Systems. "As more satellites begin to appear in deep space, deciphering the type and location is crucial for national security."

GEODSS is comprised of an Optical Command, Control, and Communications Facility at Edwards AFB, Calif, that serves as a collection point for information from powerful electro-optical sensors, or telescopes. The telescopes are located at White Sands Missile Range, NM; Diego Garcia, British Indian Ocean Territory; and Maui, Hawaii.

TRW is teamed with Sarnoff Corporation and Raytheon on Deep STARE, Deep Space Surveillance Technology Advancement & Replacement for Ebsicons.

Sarnoff will develop a camera subsystem for the prototype based on state-of-the-art Charge Coupled Device technology, which enables the sensors to see dimmer objects.

Raytheon will develop a replacement Mount Control System to accurately point the telescope. TRW will upgrade the existing image processing software and integrate all of the subsystems into a working prototype.

When the prototype is successfully completed, the Air Force can exercise options to upgrade and enhance operational sites.

TRW is working on other Air Force command and control projects in Colorado Springs. In February, a TRW-led team was selected by the U.S. Air Force to compete in the final stage of the Integrated Space Command and Control (ISC2) contract, a program valued at more than $1.8 billion over 15 years.

Designed to modernize the command and control systems at the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and U.S. Air Force Space Command in Colorado Springs, Colo., ISC2 will integrate approximately 40 air, space, and missile defense command and control systems into one integrated architecture, providing commanders at Space Command and NORAD with a common, global battlefield picture based on shared, real-time data.

TRW Inc. provides advanced technology products and services to the automotive, aerospace, and information technology markets worldwide. The company's 1999 sales were $17 billion.