Space Systems Expert Explains Technical Challenges Of Building Golden Dome

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The White House recently announced plans to develop a Golden Dome, a comprehensive missile-defense system to protect the U.S. from threats launched across land, sea, and space platforms. The system's advanced interceptor technology would be designed to neutralize missiles at every stage of their trajectory, with a particular emphasis on stopping threats in the early flight "boost" phase.

Here, Patrick Binning , an expert in space systems and missions, weighs in on the technological challenges of creating such a system.

Currently an instructor in the Whiting School of Engineering's Engineering for Professionals Space Systems Engineering program, he previously chaired the program and served as mission area executive for the National Security Space at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory from 2016 to 2025.

Golden Dome is designed to integrate four key capabilities to protect the United States from advanced missile threats: missile warning, missile tracking, missile defeat, and assessment.

The system will first alert U.S. forces that a threat has been launched, then continuously track it through the early stages of flight. This tracking is vital. During the boost and ascent phases, it's often unclear what kind of launch has occurred. It could be a space launch, a ballistic missile, a hypersonic weapon, or even a fractional orbital bombardment system.

A defining feature of Golden Dome is its inclusion of space-based interceptors. Once a threat is identified, the system can respond almost immediately, dramatically shortening the time required to launch a countermeasure. Having interceptors already in space means they're closer to potential flight paths and better positioned to respond in time.

Finally, Golden Dome will assess whether the intercept was successful. If it wasn't, additional engagement opportunities can be pursued either from space or from traditional ground- or sea-based defense systems.

Only by operating in space can Golden Dome achieve global sensor coverage, global interceptor access, and a secure, resilient communications network.

All three are required for a responsive, layered missile defense. While space systems are complex and historically expensive, costs are falling thanks to American innovation, commercial investment, and lighter, more capable technologies.