What demand do the effects of orbital perturbation put on the space surveillance mission?

• A. Space surveillance operators must adjust the attitude control systems of all satellites periodically to maintain earth pointing.
• B. The network must track all objects in orbit around the earth frequently to update their orbital elements.
• C. The network must recalibrate its radars periodically to adjust for the perturbations.
• D. Satellite operators must adjust each satellite's thermal control system on a regular basis to ensure consistent heating and cooling.

Answer: (B)

Orbital perturbations cause the paths of objects in space to drift over time, so the surveillance system must continuously observe and refresh the orbital parameters that describe each object. By frequently tracking everything in orbit, the system can update orbital elements (like semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination, and other angles) to keep the catalog accurate and predictions reliable for tracking, conjunction assessment, and mission planning. The other options don’t address this ongoing need to refine where objects actually are and how they move: attitude control adjustments relate to a satellite’s orientation, radar recalibration isn’t driven by perturbations, and thermal control tweaks are about a satellite’s internal environment rather than its orbital motion.