Maui Space Surveillance Complex

The Maui Space Surveillance Complex on Haleakala, Maui, is a U.S. Space Force site that grew from Cold War missile and satellite tracking research begun by ARPA in 1961. Chosen for its high, dry, and stable summit conditions and favorable position for surveillance, the facility developed into a hybrid observatory, military tracking station, and research center. Known for decades as AMOS, it uses visible and infrared sensors, lasers, and several telescopes to track near-Earth and deep-space objects, support astronomy, and collect missile data. Its best-known instrument, the AEOS telescope, is the largest U.S. optical telescope built specifically to track satellites, while the Kihei computing center extends the site’s research mission.

Kula, Hawaii · United States