Phillip Schmedeman, US Space Command; Joseph Gerber, Proxima Aerospace; Daniel Herber, Colorado State University
Keywords: Space Domain Awareness, satellite tracking, data analytics, evaluation framework, data-driven decision making
Abstract:
Space Situational Awareness (SSA) provides a characterization of the operating environment supporting informed decision-making processes for government and commercial space operators. Traditionally, the United States Government (USG) has relied on the Space Surveillance Network (SSN), a system of Department of Defense (DoD) owned and operated sensors, located terrestrially and in space, to detect, track, and catalog artificial objects in Earth’s orbit. The commercialization of space has introduced an alternative source of SSA data—commercially operated sensors. These commercial systems offer a means of augmenting traditional military capabilities by employing diverse sensing technologies and increasing global coverage. However, integrating commercial SSA data presents a trade-off between the cost and value of observations. Differences in the capabilities of sensor technologies and architectures necessitate a structured framework for evaluating their contributions to mission impact.
This research proposes an operations research framework to evaluate SSA data from a wide range of sensor providers. Specifically, we focus on evaluating the effectiveness of SSA data in maintaining custody and detecting on-orbit satellite maneuvers, a key aspect of SSA. To achieve this, we introduce a suite of quantitative metrics designed to assess the performance of SSA providers.
The proposed framework is demonstrated on a month of real-world commercial SSA data from July 2025, including 14 million observations and 3.2 million derived products. By evaluating the contributions of SSA data providers using a common framework, data purchasers have a more holistic understanding of the product, which can inform contract decisions and operations. Additionally, by developing transparent and quantifiable performance metrics, the framework provides a mechanism for constructive feedback to SSA data providers, encouraging improvements that align with the user’s objectives. The findings support U.S. Space Command and Space Systems Command’s efforts to integrate commercial SSA data into existing workflows, ensuring that decision-makers have access to timely and actionable information. As the space environment becomes increasingly congested and contested, the ability to dynamically assess and prioritize sensor data will be essential for maintaining strategic advantage in the domain.
Date of Conference: September 16-19, 2025
Track: Space Domain Awareness