How the sequester took down Earth's 'Space Fence'

(Image credit: NASA/Johnson Space Center)

last updated 8 January 2015

Another thing you can blame Congress for: The "Space Fence" — an American radar system that tracks satellites and space junk to keep them from colliding — is scheduled to close later this year, possibly as soon as October, according to an Air Force Space Command memo obtained by Space News.

"This is your notice to begin preparing the sites for closure," the memo said. "A specific list of action items will be provided as soon as it is finalized. A specific date to turn off the mission system has not been established yet, but will be provided to you immediately upon determination."

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Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.

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