TheMaui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC)^[2] is aU.S. Space Force operating location for the15th Space Surveillance Squadron and theAir Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) atHaleakala Observatory onMaui, Hawaii, with a twofold mission (608). First, it conducts the research and development mission on theMaui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) at the MSSC. Second, it oversees operation of theMaui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC). AFRL's research and development mission on Maui was formally calledAir Force Maui Optical Station (AMOS) and theAir Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory; the use of the term AMOS has been widespread throughout the technical community for over thirty years and is still used today at many technical conferences.^{[not verified in body]} The main-belt asteroid8721 AMOS is named after the project.^[3]

The MSSS was first envisioned as an optical research observatory in the early 1950s.^[4] It was initiated by theAdvanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA, later DARPA) in 1961 as the ARPA Midcourse Optical Station (AMOS). It was first proposed by R. Zirkind of ARPA's staff for imagingballistic missile payloads and decoys during their midcourse phase, and other space objects including satellites, in theinfrared spectrum, as well as for performing astronomical research.^[5] Its location onMount Haleakala was nearly ideal for its altitude high above much obscuration by water vapor, for its midcourse location between the missile launch site atVandenberg Air Force Base and its main reentry location atKwajalein Atoll, and for its low-latitude location which was advantageous for observing satellites.^[5]

The AMOS effort formally began with an amendment to an existing ARPA order with theUniversity of Michigan's Institute for Science and Technology, which was to design, construct, and operate the facility. This amendment defined the AMOS goals as follows: "(1) Identification and signature of space objects; (2) an active program to advance the state of the art in infrared technology and high-resolution imagery; (3) a research program in geophysics and astrophysics including the astronomical community."^[5] Design was completed in 1963, and physical plant construction begun by theArmy Corps of Engineers. Construction was complete by 1967, after which the telescopes and control systems were evaluated, calibrated, and tested until mid 1969.^[5]

In 1969, AMOS potential had been demonstrated, and the Air Force took charge as ARPA's agent. The University of Michigan was replaced by industrial contractors, and numerous system improvements and additions then took place over subsequent years.^[5] In 1984, DARPA transferred it to the Air Force, which renamed it as MSSS in 1995.^[4]

The accessibility and capability of the Maui Space Surveillance System provides an unequaled opportunity to the scientific community by combining state-of-the-artsatellite tracking with a facility supporting research and development.

The Maui Space Surveillance System, is routinely involved in numerous observing programs and has the capability of projectinglasers into theatmosphere. Situated at the crest of the dormantvolcanoHaleakala (IAU code 608), the observatory stands at an altitude of 3058 metres, latitude 20.7 degrees N, and longitude 156.3 degrees W. It is essentially co-located with IAU code566, Haleakala-NEAT/GEODSS. Virtually year-round viewing conditions are possible due to the relatively stable climate. Dry, clean air and minimal scattered light from surface sources enable visibility exceeding 150 km. Based on double star observations, seeing is typically on the order of onesecond of arc.^{[citation needed]}

Spanning over 30 years, the evolution of the Maui Space Surveillance System has demonstrated several stages in the history of space object trackingtelescopes.^{[citation needed]} Currently, through its primary mission for the United States Space Force, Space Operations Command, (formerly, Air Force Space Command), the Maui Space Surveillance System combines large-aperture tracking optics with visible andinfrared sensors to collect data on nearEarth and deep-space objects. In the process of accomplishing its mission, the observatory has discovered a number ofasteroids(see§ List of discovered minor planets).

• Top-left:3.67-meter Advanced Electro Optical System Telescope (AEOS)
• Top-right: 1.2-meter twin telescope (MOTIF)
• Bottom:Haleakala Observatory 1.6-meter telescope mounted on three axis

The 3.67-meter telescope, known as theAdvanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS), owned by theDepartment of Defense, is the United States' largest optical telescope designed for tracking satellites. The 75-ton AEOS telescope points and tracks very accurately, yet is fast enough to track both low-Earth satellites andballistic missiles. AEOS can be used simultaneously by many groups or institutions because its light can be channeled through a series of mirrors to seven independentCoudé focus rooms below the telescope. Employing sophisticated sensors that include an adaptive optics system,radiometer,spectrograph, and long-wave infrared imager, the telescope tracks man-made objects in deep space and performs space object identification data collection.

AEOS is equipped with an adaptive optics system, the heart of which is a 941-actuator deformable mirror that can change its shape to remove the atmosphere's distorting effects. Scientists are expected to get near diffraction-limited images of space objects.

The Maui Optical Tracking and Identification Facility (MOTIF) is also hosted at the MSSS site. The system consists of two 1.2-meter telescopes on a common mount. MOTIF is used primarily for Long Waveinfrared (LWIR) and photometric data collection.^[6]

Other equipment at MSSS includes a 1.6-meter telescope that performs day and night tracking and imaging, a 0.8-meter beam director/tracker, and a 0.6-meter laser beam director. The telescopes accommodate a wide variety of sensor systems, including imaging systems, conventional and contrast modephotometers, infrared radiometers, low light level video systems, and acquisition telescopes.

The MSSS site, also hosts assets for theGround-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) system.^[7]

In addition to these assets, the site has a machine shop, optics laboratories, and electronics laboratories. A Remote Maui Experimental (RME) site at sea level houses additional optics and electronics laboratories. This secondary observation station atKihei bears IAU code625 and is located at20°44′46″N156°25′54″W / 20.74611°N 156.43167°W /20.74611; -156.43167.

The Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) is anAir Force Research Laboratory center currently managed by theUniversity of Hawaii and is located in the Maui Research and Technology Park inKihei.^[8] The MHPCC is a leading computing resource of the Department of Defense research and development community and operates numerous computer clusters, including a 5,120 processor Dell Poweredge cluster named "Jaws" which, as of November 2006, was the 11th most powerful computing systems in the world.^[9][10] The Center also has a 12,096 core IBM iDataplex Cluster, named "Riptide" which as November 2013 attained a peak performance Linpack performance of 212 Teraflops and ranked #192 on the Top500 in November 2013.^[11]

• Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance*List of astronomical observatories
• List of minor planet discoverers § Discovering dedicated institutions
• List of astronomical observatories

• Official website AMOS web site
• MHPCC web site

20°42′30″N156°15′29″W / 20.70833°N 156.25806°W /20.70833; -156.25806

• Astronomical observatories in Hawaii
• 1993 establishments in Hawaii
• Buildings and structures in Maui County, Hawaii
• Discoveries by AMOS
• Research installations of the United States Air Force
• Minor-planet discovering observatories
• United States Space Surveillance Network
• Military installations established in 1966

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