Part 4/10:
Once the satellite detects the launch, the data is relayed rapidly to command centers such as the Aerospace Data Facility in Colorado, which was only declassified in 2008. This facility, along with other intelligence agencies like the NSA and military command units, processes the incoming data to determine the missile's trajectory and potential impact point.
Seconds matter. Within 150 seconds (2.5 minutes), analysts and automated systems assess whether the missile is heading toward U.S. soil or allied territories. As the missile's course narrows—based on real-time sensor data—defense systems aim to intercept or prepare for retaliation.