# Operate and Upgrade Maui Space Surveillance System

**R-2A activity** of project 634868 — Maui Space Surveillance System  
**Program element:** 1206616SF — Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo  
**Component:** U.S. Space Force · **Budget Activity:** 3  
**Vintage:** President's Budget PB2027  
**Canonical URL:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206616SF/634868/a0  
**Parent:** https://hitchintel.com/programs/1206616SF/634868

## Summary

This activity requests $41.1M in FY2027, 100% of project 634868, up 31% on FY2026. The R-2A exhibit describes it across FY2026–FY2027, including what the FY2027 money is planned to buy.

## What the FY2027 request buys

**FY2027 planned work.** Continue: - Modernizing the Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) research and development (R&D) facilities and experimental equipment to remain in mission-ready state to mature space surveillance technology into combat-relevant capability that contributes to Combat Forces Command (CFC)'s operational mission (focus on effective communication technology for MSSS). - Sustaining and modernizing experimental equipment and networks to support collecting observations of satellites as requested by mission partners. - Operating the regional wide-area-search of the geosynchronous belt in the Pacific Area of Responsibility (AOR) as a certified sensor node contributing to the Space Surveillance Network. - Hosting missions in the Pacific AOR for Department of War components and other government agencies (assist Space Systems Command in evaluation of space surveillance using a multi-aperture optical sensor). - Assisting the Air Force Civil Engineering Center in meeting R&D requirements during construction of the new Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing installation funded under military construction authority. - Installation of the new dome for the 1.2m twin-telescope that will protect the sensor from weather. - Operating the 1.6m telescope for technology development for daytime imaging of space objects as well as surveillance of extremely dim objects Complete: - Installation of the thermal control system to include testing and checkout that ensures precise & stable temperature control of electro-optic cameras attached to the 3.6-meter telescope facility. - Oversight of the environmental impact study for the Small Telescope Advanced Research Site. Commence: - Integration of the thermal-imaging space surveillance sensor.

**FY2026 to FY2027 change.** FY 2027 increased compared to FY 2026 by $9.815 million for completion of the new dome for the 1.6m telescope.

## Before the request year

**FY2026 plans — current year.** Continue: - Modernizing the Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) research and development (R&D) facilities and experimental equipment to remain in mission-ready state to mature space surveillance technology into combat-relevant capability that contributes to Combat Forces Command (CFC)'s operational mission (continue establishment of the Defense Research & Engineering Network). - Collecting observations of satellites as requested by mission partners (conduct the Kaimana Campaign for the National Space Test & Training Complex). - Operating the regional wide-area-search of the geosynchronous belt in the Pacific Area of Responsibility (AOR) (establish the wide-area search sensor as a data-contributing node in the Space Surveillance Network). - Hosting missions in the Pacific AOR for Department of War components and other government agencies (assist Space Systems Command in evaluation of space surveillance using a passive radio-frequency sensor). - Assisting the Air Force Civil Engineering Center in meeting research & development requirements during construction of the new Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing installation funded under military construction authority. - Overseeing the environmental impact study for the Small Telescope Advanced Research Site. Complete: - Installation of the new dome for the 1.6m telescope that will protect the sensor from weather, and resume this sensor's unique ability to develop technology for daytime imaging of space objects as well as surveillance of extremely dim objects. - Installation of the thermal control system that ensures precise & stable temperature control of electro-optic cameras attached to the 3.6-meter telescope facility. Commence: - Installation of the new dome for the 1.2m twin-telescope that will protect the sensor from weather. - Reconstruction of the thermal-imaging space surveillance sensor.

## Funding

| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 19.5 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 31.3 |
| FY2027 | Request | 41.1 |

> Prior, current and budget year only — an R-2A activity carries no five-year plan. It sums exactly into its project in the request year and not necessarily in any other.

## Source & machine access

- **Source:** FY2027 Department of the Air Force RDT&E Budget Justification, Exhibit R-2A, PE 1206616SF project 634868 (PB PB2027). Narrative is the government's own text.
- **No marks, no contractors at this grain** — congressional marks land on the program element and R-3 performers on the project.
- **MCP:** `mcp.hitchintel.com` — `budget_get_activity`.

*HitchAI is an independent intelligence service, not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Defense. Budget figures are requests/estimates, not obligations.*