How do ICBM early warning systems differentiate between a real threat and a launch of a normal rocket intended to go to space?

Question

How do ICBM early warning systems differentiate between a real threat and a launch of a normal rocket intended to go to space?

In: 2759

Answer 1

There are teams of military personnel all across the world who track all the rocket launches using both ground-based radars and space-based radars 24/7. They have computer systems that calculate the trajectory of each and every rocket. They can pinpoint the location of the launch as well, so if a rocket was launched from some unknown location, it’s automatically a high threat regardless of the trajectory. If a rocket was launched at a commercial launch site, they still have eyes that are looking at the trajectory, to see if there needs to be an intervention or a warning to be relayed further.