Pat Donnelly, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Andrew Ash, Dstl
Keywords: SSA, ATV-5, CSPO, EU, experimentation, collaboration
Abstract:
Dstl has developed an approach to explore the challenges of understanding the fundamental principles of SSA through the design and execution of a series of national and international SSA experiments conducted since 2008. These have involved a number of nations within different multi-lateral constructs (such as Combined Space Operations [CSPO] and NATO), and have also served as test case scenarios in support of international SSA research collaboration. It has been found that this experimentally-driven approach has been successful in linking government R&D activities to actual operations with UK MOD; enabling enhanced cooperation with academia through the provision of access to sensors and data; as well as an understanding of the operational imperatives and constraints, not usually available or apparent to these institutions. The experiences of the Dstl team over the past 8 years have yielded a number of lessons learnt that we believe the wider international community would benefit from in relation to effective SSA operations, including how to generate closer relationships between communities across government, industry, academia and operators. This paper describes the overall Dstl approach to a series of SSA experiments designed to inform the UK MOD on the challenges and potential technical solutions related to SSA mission areas. It includes details of the participants, design and execution; and illustrates some major findings of each event to date. Lessons learnt pertinent to the AMOS and wider SSA community are presented that will inform the audience on how this approach may be adopted to meet other SSA scenarios. Finally, it presents the UK roadmap for future experiments identified as possible activities under the CSPO initiative and the EU Space Surveillance and Tracking programme.
Date of Conference: September 20-23, 2016
Track: Poster