Cameron Dickinson, MDA Space Robotics & Operations; Sebastian Slaman, MDA Space Robotics & Operations; Piotr Jasiobedzki, MDA Space Robotics & Operations; Dennis Gregoris, MDA Space Robotics & Operations; Denise King, MDA Space Robotics & Operations
Keywords: satellite protection, laser source and optical threat detection, characterization and attribution
Abstract:
Satellites are vulnerable to a range of threats from adversaries that may deny or disrupt their operations or even destroy them. Adversaries satellites placed on similar or orbits ground based stations may pose such threats by intercepting or jamming communications, or interfering with imaging operations. Satellites have been destroyed from the ground using lasers or kinetic weapons, e.g., Indian anti-satellite weapon test in 2019, Chinese ASAT test in 2007 or USA-193 in 2008. Surveillance satellites have been dazzled with lasers from Earth interfering with their operations. In most cases the satellites operators do not know what caused interruption in their satellite operation or whether their assets are being observed or targeted by adversaries satellites operating in the vicinity.
To detect and counteract such threats western democracies have initiated several programs: US Self Awareness/Space Situation Awareness (SASSA), US Bodyguard satellites protecting valuable assets; and in France, a new ASAT program will include equipping satellites with Situational Awareness cameras and the ability to dazzle threatening adversaries with lasers.
MDA is conducting research and development into technologies to detect the presence of laser illumination or optical observation by other orbital assets or ground stations to provide Space Situational Awareness to the satellite operators. These technologies will be packaged as compact systems that can be deployed on a range of satellites. Two different solutions are being sought
Passive optical detection and localization of laser sources (rangefinders, dazzlers and targeting systems)
Active detection and localization of optics targeting the satellites (cameras and telescopes)
Satellite based camera systems have been deployed, by most space capable countries, for the purpose of observing adversary satellite assets, specifically, orbital position. What is often not known, however, is where the observational asset is pointed, and more importantly, whether an optical system is present onboard. Terrestrially, sniper detection systems make use of a so-called cats eye effect. Here optical instruments (camera lenses, telescopes, sights etc.) are detected when an area is illuminated and specular reflections from the adversaries optical system are detected. Such commercial systems, however, typically operate at most up to 1 km, and are not suited to work in space owing to the much harsher space environment. MDA has developed a concept and tested a breadboard system that offers this functionality, and could be deployed in space to determine the optical capabilities and location of adversarial optical assets at the range of 10s to 100s of kilometers.
Lasers (rangefinders, dazzlers and designators) have been in use for ground-based defense systems for several decades (e.g. air to ground), with a growing focus on anti satellite (ASAT): either ground to orbital asset or most recently, satellite to satellite. In 2006 a ground based Chinese system illuminated and temporarily dazzled a US orbital asset. Similarly, nation states such as France and China have publically indicated that they are developing offensive ground to orbit laser based technologies. Commercial systems detect incoming laser illumination at selected wavelengths at distances of under 2 kms, can identify a sector where the source might be located but cannot identify the type of threat (rangefinder, dazzler, or designator). The system under development at MDA uses principles of detecting monochromatic laser light currently used in limited capability laser warning system for land vehicles, and extends them into space domain. The system has been extended to include an ability to determine source characteristics, wavelength, irradiation and illumination directionality, thus providing satellite operators with the ability to locate and attribute the threat to a specific source.
This research has been funded through the Canadian Department of Defenses IDEAS program.
Satellites are vulnerable to a range of threats from adversaries that may deny or disrupt their operations or even destroy them. Currently, the satellites operators do not know what caused interruption in their satellite operation or whether their assets are being observed or targeted by adversaries satellites operating in the vicinity. MDA is developing technologies to detect, characterize and attribute laser sources or optical observation by other orbital assets or ground stations to provide Space Situational Awareness to the satellite operators. These technologies will be packaged as compact systems that can be deployed on a range of satellites.
Date of Conference: September 14-17, 2021
Track: SSA/SDA