Greg Furlich, University of Colorado Boulder, Center for National Security Initiatives; Angie Crews, University of Colorado Boulder, Center for National Security Initiatives; Jack McGuigan, True Anomaly; Tim McLauglin, InTrack Radar Technologies; Chris Burns, InTrack Radar Technologies; Pace Balster, Katalyst Space Technologies; Gabrielle Jones, Katalyst Space Technologies; Gaven Hofer, Katalyst Space Technologies; Ian Stuart Bartlett, HEO; Lakitha Hettiarachchi, HEO; Lt. Haley Spolar, United States Space Force, Space Systems Command; Major Sean Allen, United States Space Force, Space Systems Command
Keywords: Space Situational/Domain Awareness, Satellite Characterization, Integrating Diverse Data, Instrumentation, Sensors, and Systems, Data Fusion, Big Data Analytics, Mission Data Processing
Abstract:
To deter and defeat hostile and consequential engagements in space, the SDA Tools, Applications, and Processing (TAP) Lab was stood up in Colorado Springs, Colorado in 2023. The mission of the SDA TAP Lab is to stimulate partnership among industry, academia, and across the government to solve SDA gaps and transition solutions into operations quickly. The motivations for the SDA TAP Lab are the lack of automation along the analysis chain; the burdens placed on operators; the reliance on large, stovepipe systems; and the ever-increasing activity in the space domain.
In the Fall of 2023, a cohort of organizations from industry, academia, federally funded research and development centers, and US government entities and organizations were selected to address five kill chains specified by the United States Space Force (USSF). The cohort comprises members from Katalyst Space Technologies, Digital Arsenal, InTrack Radar Technologies, True Anomaly, HEO, the University of Colorado Boulder, and others. The cohort worked together to accelerate the research and development of technologies and capabilities to detect, track, and characterize hostile events such as direct ascent anti-satellite and co-orbital anti-satellite threats from the start of the engagement and beyond. Cohort members developed Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) capabilities and traditional algorithms for launch site characterization, launch detection, launch reacquisition and tracking, and payload characterization to create indicators which analyze threat validity and intent. These applications were developed to defeat operational surprise through camouflage, concealment, deception, and maneuver (CCDM) and they were then integrated into a common mission data processing infrastructure developed between cohort members and SDA TAP Lab staff. The completed pipeline demonstrates end-to-end capabilities from characterizing unknown objects in the SpaceTrack Catalog to displaying on-orbit activities in a common operating picture. Effective collaboration in the SDA TAP Lab tech accelerator led to significant accomplishments in 49 business days, and this spirit shall carry on in further cohorts by continuing to close gaps to ensure responsible action in space.
Date of Conference: September 17-20, 2024
Track: Space Domain Awareness