The Golden Dome and Beyond: Assessing the Future of U.S. Space-Based Infrared Sensors

The Golden Dome and Beyond: Assessing the Future of U.S. Space-Based Infrared Sensors | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 4 March 2026 V1 Latest version Share on The Golden Dome and Beyond: Assessing the Future of U.S. Space-Based Infrared Sensors Author : Simone Fontana 0000-0001-7823-8973 [email protected] Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177266382.20644802/v1 283 views 92 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract This study evaluates the fundamental shift in the United States space-based missile defense architecture from a reliance on a limited number of high-altitude satellites to the deployment of large constellations in Low Earth Orbit. Driven by the enactment of Public Law 119-21 and the proposed "Golden Dome" system, the study examines how and whether space-based infrared sensors are evolving to detect and track modern threats, such as Hypersonic Glide Vehicles and Fractional Orbital Bombardment Systems. While legacy systems like the Space-Based Infrared System provided early warning, their high altitude and sensors' technology hindered the spatial resolution required for precise fire-control capabilities. The Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture should improve tracking by orbiting closer to Earth and utilizing sensors on multiple satellites to enable 3D triangulation via stereo-vision. However, the technical efficacy of these systems remains difficult to verify due to classified sensor specifications and inconclusive experimental results. Supplementary Material File (manuscript.pdf) Download 251.93 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 04 March 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License Keywords golden dome missile defense next-gen opir proliferated warfighter space architecture space-based infrared sensors Authors Affiliations Simone Fontana 0000-0001-7823-8973 [email protected] School of Law, University of Milan -Bicocca View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 283 views 92 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Simone Fontana. The Golden Dome and Beyond: Assessing the Future of U.S. Space-Based Infrared Sensors. Authorea . 04 March 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177266382.20644802/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. 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