Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory

The Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing observatory is an Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) operating location at Haleakala Observatory on Maui, Hawaii, with a twofold mission (608). First, it conducts the research and development mission on the Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS) at the Maui Space Surveillance Complex (MSSC). Second, it oversees operation of the Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC). AFRL's research and development mission on Maui was formally called Air Force Maui Optical Station (AMOS); 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. The main-belt asteroid 8721 AMOS is named after the project.[2]

Minor planets discovered: 67 [1]
see § List of discovered minor planets
The Air Force Maui Optical and Supercomputing site at Haleakala Observatory in Hawaii. Facilities shown include the Advanced Electro-Optical Telescope, the Maui Space Surveillance System, and one of three Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance sites.

Origins

Today's observatory was initiated by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) in 1961 as the ARPA Midcourse Optical Station (AMOS). It was first proposed by R. Zirkind of ARPA's staff for imaging ballistic missile payloads and decoys during their midcourse phase, and other space objects including satellites, in the infrared spectrum, as well as for performing astronomical research. Its location on Mount Haleakala was nearly ideal for its altitude high above much obscuration by water vapor, for its midcourse location between the missile launch site at Vandenberg Air Force Base and its main reentry location at Kwajalein Atoll, and for its low-latitude location which was advantageous for observing satellites.

The AMOS effort formally began with an amendment to an existing ARPA order with the University 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." Design was completed in 1963, and physical plant construction begun by the Army Corps of Engineers. Construction was complete by 1967, after which the telescopes and control systems were evaluated, calibrated, and tested until mid 1969.

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. [3]

Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS)

The accessibility and capability of the Maui Space Surveillance System provides an unequaled opportunity to the scientific community by combining state-of-the-art satellite 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 projecting lasers into the atmosphere. Situated at the crest of the dormant volcano Haleakala (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 code 566, 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 one second of arc.

Spanning over 30 years, the evolution of the Maui Space Surveillance System has demonstrated several stages in the history of space object tracking telescopes. 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 and infrared sensors to collect data on near Earth and deep-space objects. In the process of accomplishing its mission, the observatory has discovered a number of asteroids (see § List of discovered minor planets)

 

Advanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS)
Main article: 3.67 m Advanced Electro Optical System Telescope

The 3.67-meter telescope, known as the Advanced Electro-Optical System (AEOS), owned by the Department 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 and ballistic missiles. AEOS can be used simultaneously by many groups or institutions because its light can be channeled through a series of mirrors to seven independent coudé 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.

Maui Optical Tracking and Identification Facility (MOTIF)

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 Wave infrared (LWIR) and photometric data collection.[4]

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 mode photometers, infrared radiometers, low light level video systems, and acquisition telescopes.

Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS)

The MSSS site, also hosts assets for the Ground-based Electro-Optical Deep Space Surveillance (GEODSS) system.[5]

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 at Kihei bears IAU code 625 and is located at 20°44′46″N 156°25′54″W.

Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC)

The Maui High Performance Computing Center (MHPCC) is an Air Force Research Laboratory center currently managed by the University of Hawaii and is located in the Maui Research and Technology Park in Kihei.[6] 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.[7][8] 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.[9]

List of discovered minor planets
8721 AMOS14 January 1996list
9651 Arii-SooHoo7 January 1996list
10193 Nishimoto8 August 1996list
10863 Oye31 August 1995list
11104 Airion6 October 1995list
(11993) 1995 XX8 December 1995list
12426 Racquetball14 November 1995list
12443 Paulsydney15 March 1996list
13168 Danoconnell6 December 1995list
(14066) 1996 FA420 March 1996list
14942 Stevebaker21 June 1995list
(19279) 1995 YC428 December 1995list
(19281) 1996 AP314 January 1996list
(20128) 1996 AK7 January 1996list
(21244) 1995 XU114 December 1995list
(26176) 1996 GD215 April 1996list
27870 Jillwatson12 November 1995list
(27898) 1996 OS223 July 1996list
(29395) 1996 PO15 August 1996list
31000 Rockchic11 November 1995list
31020 Skarupa17 March 1996list
32943 Sandyryan13 November 1995list
(32949) 1996 AR314 January 1996list
37692 Loribragg12 November 1995list
(37700) 1996 AL310 January 1996list
(39671) 1996 AG7 January 1996list
(42544) 1996 EL211 March 1996list
(43995) 1997 PY514 August 1997list
48628 Janetfender7 September 1995list
(48712) 1996 OV226 July 1996list
(52505) 1996 FD422 March 1996list
(52506) 1996 FK423 March 1996list
(52525) 1996 PJ8 August 1996list
(52534) 1996 TB157 October 1996list
58365 Robmedrano27 July 1995list
(58575) 1997 RK911 September 1997list
(73953) 1997 UN2027 October 1997list
(85374) 1996 FC422 March 1996list
85386 Payton26 July 1996list
90817 Doylehall1 September 1995list
90818 Daverichards14 September 1995list
90820 McCann20 September 1995list
(90850) 1996 FM116 March 1996list
(100421) 1996 FF423 March 1996list
(100425) 1996 HM17 April 1996list
(120624) 1996 EM211 March 1996list
(120728) 1997 SG3228 September 1997list
(120729) 1997 SH3228 September 1997list
(120738) 1997 TO172 October 1997list
(150148) 1996 FX320 March 1996list
(162032) 1995 WJ820 November 1995list
(164655) 1996 HR122 April 1996list
(168359) 1996 DH329 February 1996list
(175698) 1995 UQ820 October 1995list
(185670) 1995 RS14 September 1995list
(200102) 1995 QH331 August 1995list
(210481) 1996 HQ120 April 1996list
(217636) 1996 PH314 August 1996list
(225304) 1995 WH819 November 1995list
(225308) 1996 HH17 April 1996list
(237387) 1996 PM11 August 1996list
(316671) 1995 RN1 September 1995list
(321769) 2010 OR3026 July 1996list
(322504) 2011 WF1419 November 1995list
(382402) 1995 PR4 August 1995list
(415695) 1996 GE215 April 1996list
(446786) 1996 GD7 April 1996list

See also

References
  1. "Minor Planet Discoverers (by number)". Minor Planet Center. 4 September 2016. Retrieved 2 November 2016.
  2. Schmadel, Lutz D. (2007). "(8721) Amos". Dictionary of Minor Planet Names – (8721) AMOS. Springer Berlin Heidelberg. p. 662. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29925-7_7171. ISBN 978-3-540-00238-3.
  3. "AMOS: ARPA Midcourse Optical Station", Chapter X, in DARPA Technical Accomplishments: 1958-1990, Volumes 1-3, Richard H. Van Atta, Sidney G. Reed, Seymour J. Deitchman, et al., Institute for Defense Analyses, January 1990 - March 1991.
  4. "Maui Optical Tracking and Identification Facility (MOTIF)". FAS. Archived from the original on 2015-10-11. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  5. "Maui Space Surveillance System (MSSS)". FAS. Archived from the original on 2015-10-10. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  6. "About MHPCC". Archived from the original on 2008-06-21. Retrieved 2008-08-28.
  7. "Top500 List - November 2006". top500.org.
  8. Maui Supercomputing Center to Reach 60 Teraflops
  9. "Riptide - iDataPlex DX360M4, Xeon E5-2670 8C 2.600GHz, Infiniband FDR". top500.org.

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