AN/FPS-85 Spacetrack Radar

The AN/FPS-85 Spacetrack Radar is a large, fixed-site phased-array radar system designed for space surveillance. It was the first large phased-array radar system to become operational, capable of simultaneously tracking hundreds of objects in Earth orbit.

Developed by the Bendix Corporation in the 1960s, the system was conceived to address the growing need for tracking Soviet satellites and potential ballistic missile threats during the Cold War. Although a catastrophic fire destroyed the initial facility during construction in 1965, the radar was rebuilt and officially entered service in 1969 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. Throughout its operational life, the radar has served as a cornerstone of the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, famously tracking the Apollo spacecraft and cataloging thousands of deep-space objects. Today, the AN/FPS-85 remains active under the command of the United States Space Force's 20th Space Surveillance Squadron, continuing its vital mission of space domain awareness.