Early warning satellite

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/early-warning-satellite

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the primary detection mechanism?Infrared sensors detecting thermal signatures of rocket exhaust
2. What is the key historical program?MIDAS (Missile Defense Alarm System), launched in the late 1950s/early 1960s
3. What are early warning satellites and why are they called space detectives?They are special satellites that watch the sky for dangerous things like missile launches. They use powerful infrared sensors to spot the heat from rocket engines, just like detectives looking for clues.
4. How do these satellites know if a missile is being launched?The satellites look for the bright, hot plume of a rocket engine using infrared sensors. They can tell the difference between a missile launch and other heat sources such as clouds or fires.

Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM): A long-range missile designed to deliver nuclear warheads across continents.
Strategic Deterrence: The military strategy of discouraging an opponent from attacking by threatening retaliation.
Near-Earth Object (NEO): An asteroid or comet whose orbit brings it into close proximity with Earth.
Space Situational Awareness (SSA): The knowledge of the space environment, including the location and status of space objects.