Final answer:
The CMWS system is designed to detect and track UV radiation from a missile during its different launch phases. This technology has military applications and is related to advancements in space-based observation of high-energy electromagnetic waves, including UV, X-rays, and gamma rays, from celestial sources as well as missile launches.
Step-by-step explanation:
The CMWS or Countermeasure Warning System detects and tracks ultraviolet (UV) radiation emitted from a missile's plume during the launch, boost, and sustain phases. The significance of observing high-energy electromagnetic waves such as UV radiation, which can only be done from space, was first realized with instruments on V2 rockets captured from Germany after World War II. The tracking and analysis of UV radiation have advanced significantly, with missions like those of the Swift spacecraft, which features on-board gamma-ray, X-ray, and ultraviolet detectors. This capability is crucial for both space exploration and military applications, helping to improve predictive models and provide early warnings for missile launches and solar events like Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) that could impact Earth.