Technical Papers – Cislunar SDA

A Game-Theoretical Exploration of L1/L2 Cislunar Space Situational Awareness Using Bayesian Games (2025)
John Boh, The University of Texas at Austin; Zachary Funke, AFIT/CIG; Maruthi Akella, The University of Texas at Austin

Keywords: Cislunar Space, Space Situational Awareness, Space Domain Awareness, Orbital Surveillance, Game Theory, Detection Likelihood, Satellite Maneuvering, Minimum-ΔV Transfers, CR3BP, Space Security, Lunar Operations, Space Traffic Management

Application of Uncertainty Propagation with Adaptive Gaussian Mixture Models for Cislunar Objects (2025)
John Gaebler, KBR; Juan Gutierrez, KBR; Paul Billings, KBR; Christopher Craft, KBR; Charles J. Wetterer, KBR; Jason Baldwin, Complex Futures; Micah Dilley, KBR; Jill Bruer, AFRL

Keywords: Uncertainty propagation, adaptive GMM, cislunar

Automating Motion Hypothesis Methods for Cislunar Satellite Discovery (2025)
Stefan Doucette, InTrack Radar Technologies; Kaitlyn Raub, InTrack Radar Technologies; William J. Mandeville, InTrack Radar Technologies; Tim McLaughlin, InTrack Radar Technologies

Keywords: cislunar, xgeo, motion hypothesis, velocity search, algorithm, discovery

Cislunar Admissible Regions from Periodic Orbit Manifolds (2025)
Cedric Petion, The University of Texas at Austin; Brandon Jones, The University of Texas at Austin

Keywords: admissible regions, cislunar, multi-fidelity, uncertainty propagation, initial orbit determination (IOD), space situational awareness (SSA)

Enhancing Ground-Based Cislunar SDA: Reducing Search Area for Monitoring Small-Maneuver Earth Return Trajectories Using Poincaré Maps (2025)
Connor Segal, EO Solutions & Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; Kevin Schroeder, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Keywords: Cislunar Space, Poincaré Map, Persistent Monitoring, Space Domain Awareness, Search

High-Precision Orbit Determination from Lunar Orbiter TTC Data Using a 12m Parabola Antenna Long Baseline Aperture Synthesis (2025)
Yuichiro Kitagawa, LSAS Tec; Guifre Molera Calves, HENSOLDT Australia & University of Tasmania; Koji Wakamori, LSAS Tec; Yosuke Yamamoto, LSAS Tec; Masahiro Yamatani, MCC Corporation

Keywords: Lunar orbit, Cislunar, Passive RF sensor, TDOA /FDOA, High Accuracy Orbit Determination

Initial Orbit Determination from Ephemeris Models: Accurate Reconstruction of Maneuvering Cislunar Orbits Using Nonlinear Programming (2025)
Casey Heidrich, University of Colorado Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado Boulder

Keywords: Initial Orbit Determination, Astrodynamics, Maneuver Estimation, Optimization

Multi-Order Single Shooting Scheme for Initial Orbit Determination for Cislunar Objects (2025)
Jonathon Hope, Pennsylvania State University; Puneet Singla, The Pennsylvania State University; Roshan Eapen, Pennsylvania State University; Peter Kent, Peraton; Michael Goodman, Peraton; Joseph Diamond, Peraton

Keywords: Cislunar, Astrodynamics, Orbit Determination, Multi-Order Shooting Correction Schemes, XGEO, SDA

Novel Algorithms for Custody Maintenance and Tracking in the Cislunar Environment (2025)
Matthew Givens, Advanced Space LLC; Alexandre Cortiella, Advanced Space LLC; Amanda Marlow, Advanced Space LLC; Veronica Rankowicz, Advanced Space LLC; Andrew Koehler, Advanced Space LLC; Aaron Liao, Advanced Space LLC; Justin Spurbeck, Advanced Space LLC; Charles Cain, Advanced Space LLC; Patrick Miga, Advanced Space LLC

Keywords: Space Domain Awareness, Cislunar, Uncertainty Management, Uncertainty Propagation, Sensor Tasking, Custody

Rapid Classification of near-Earth and Cislunar Objects using Electro-Optical Observations (2025)
Joseph Diamond, Peraton; Michael Goodman, Peraton; Peter Kent, Peraton; Stephen Sawyer, Peraton; Sasidhar Devabhaktuni, Pennsylvania State University; Roshan Eapen, Pennsylvania State University; Jonathon Hope, Pennsylvania State University; Puneet Singla, Pennsylvania State University

Keywords: Peraton, Penn State, PSU, Lockheed, FireOPAL, Cislunar, xGEO, IOD, Classification

Single Observation Orbit Determination for Periodic Cislunar Orbits via Parameterization (2025)
Sam Wishnek, BAE Systems; Scott Nonweiler, BAE Systems; Luke Tafur, BAE Systems

Keywords: Cislunar, parameterization, orbit determination, angles-only

Visibility Informed Covariance Analysis for Cislunar Periodic Orbits (2025)
Evangelina Evans, University of Colorado Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado Boulder; Daniel Scheeres, University of Colorado Boulder

Keywords: cislunar, covariance analysis, visibility

A Comprehensive Approach to Optimized Cislunar Architecture Design Utilizing Capacity (2024)
Justin Kim, BAE Systems, Inc.; Naomi Owens Fahrner, BAE Systems, Inc.

Keywords: Cislunar, Architecture, Design, Optimization, Capacity

Adaptive Sensor Tasking Strategies for Tracking Non-Cooperative Cislunar Space Objects (2024)
Jeremy Correa, Katalyst Space Technologies; John Ware, Katalyst Space Technologies; Maruthi Akella, UT Austin; Brandon Jones, UT Austin

Keywords: Dynamic Tasking, Cooperative Decision Making, Cislunar OD

An Adaptive Approach to the Initial Orbit Determination Problem in the Cislunar Regime Using Machine Learning (2024)
Juan Ojeda Romero, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab; Wayne Schlei, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Gene Whipps, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Nicholas LaFarge, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Gunner Fritsch, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory; Sean Phillips, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory

Keywords: Multibody dynamics, cislunar IOD, Circular Restricted Three Body Problem, Neural Networks, Dynamical Systems Theory, Machine Learning, Classification, Orbit Determination

An Investigation of Impulsive-Maneuver Transfers from L3, L4 and L5 to Earth-Orbit (2024)
Evangelina Evans, University of Colorado at Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado at Boulder; Daniel Scheeres, University of Colorado at Boulder

Keywords: astrography, cislunar space,

Analysis of Persistent Detection Corridors for Cislunar Space Situational Awareness (2024)
Michael Klonowski, University of Colorado at Boulder; Casey Heidrich, University of Colorado at Boulder; Naomi Owens-Fahrner, BAE Systems, Inc.; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado at Boulder

Keywords: Space Domain Awareness, Cislunar Space, Mission Planning

Analysis of Receiver Position and Velocity Uncertainty on Passive RF Cislunar SSA Architectures (2024)
Kullen Waggoner, Air Force Institute of Technology; David Curtis, Air Force Institute of Technology

Keywords: SDA, SSA, cislunar, Passive RF, TDOA, FDOA,

Applications of Poincare Search Maps for Space-Based Cislunar SDA Detection (2024)
Raymond Wright, BAE Systems; Naomi Owens-Fahrner, BAE Systems; Luke Tafur, BAE Systems; Joshua Wysack, BAE Systems

Keywords: Cislunar, SSA, SDA, STM, Poincare Search Maps, Three-body problem

Autonomous Trajectory Planning for Cislunar Space (2024)
Brian McCarthy, a.i. solutions, Inc; Fabio Chiappina, a.i. solutions, Inc

Keywords: cislunar, trajectory design, machine learning, path planning, multi-body dynamics

Cislunar Initial Orbit Determination Using Sensor and Measurement-Centric Admissible Regions (2024)
Queenique Dinh, University of Colorado Boulder; Daniel Scheeres, University of Colorado Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado Boulder

Keywords: Cislunar, Initial Orbit Determination, Admissible Regions, Space Situational Awareness

Cislunar Orbit Determination with Passive RF Sensors (2024)
François Thevenot, Safran Data Systems; Baptiste Guillot, Safran Data Systems; Sebastien Herbiniere, Safran Data Systems

Keywords: Cislunar SSA, Orbit Determination, Passive RF

Cislunar Surveillance Optimization and Key Region Identification (2024)
Surabhi Bhadauria, Purdue University; Arly Black, Purdue University; Carolin Frueh, Purdue University

Keywords: cislunar surveillance, key regions, optmization

Efficient Cislunar Multi-Target Tracking with Adaptive Multi-Fidelity Propagation (2024)
Benjamin L. Reifler, The University of Texas at Austin; Brandon A. Jones, The University of Texas at Austin

Keywords: multi-fidelity, cislunar, multi-target

Enhanced Heuristic Algorithm for Optimal Cislunar Space Situational Awareness Architecture (2024)
Jacob Dahlke, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT); Col. Robert Bettinger, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT); Rachel Oliver, Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT)

Keywords: cislunar, SSA, heuristic, genetic algorithm

Guiding Lunar Growth: Architectural Solutions for Space Traffic Management (2024)
Michael Bilka, BAE Systems; Raymond Wright, BAE Systems, Space & Mission Systems; Joshua Wysack, BAE Systems

Keywords: Cislunar, SSA, SDA, STM, Lunar Missions

Motion Hypothesis Satellite Detection for Cislunar Spacecraft (2024)
Kaitlyn Raub, InTrack Radar Technologies, Inc.; Tim McLaughlin, InTrack Radar Technologies, Inc.; Nathan Holzrichter, MITRE; Stefan Doucette, MITRE; Francis Chun, United States Air Force Academy

Keywords: cislunar, telescope, astronomy, observatory, algorithms

Optimal Control-Based Track-to-Track Correlation with Optical Measurements (2024)
Alessia De Riz, Politecnico di Milano; Riccardo Cipollone, Politecnico di Milano; Pierluigi Di Lizia, Politecnico di Milano

Keywords: SST, track-to-track correlation, optimal control, optical measurements, uncertainty propagation

Reachability Analysis of Low-Thrust Cislunar Spacecraft Using State Transition Tensors (2024)
Ethan Foss, Stanford University; Aaron J. Rosengren, University of California, San Diego; Ashley D. Biria, Air Force Research Laboratory

Keywords: Reachability Analysis, Cislunar Astrodynamics, Space Domain Awareness

Simultaneous Observation Association and Maneuver Reconstruction for Non-Keplerian Initial Orbit Determination Using Nonlinear Programming (2024)
Casey Heidrich, University of Colorado Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado Boulder

Keywords: Initial orbit determination, optimization, measurement association, maneuver reconstruction

SOM-erizing Cislunar Orbits: Classification of Cislunar Orbits Using Self-Organizing Maps (SOMs) (2024)
Denvir Higgins, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Kerianne Pruett, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Travis Yeager, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Michael Schneider, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Keywords: SOM, cislunar, unsupervised machine learning, maps

The Resonant Structure of xGEO and Implications for Cislunar Domain Awareness (2024)
Aaron J. Rosengren, University of California San Diego; Shane D. Ross, Virginia Tech; Bhanu Kumar, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Caltech; Anjali Rawat, Virginia Tech

Keywords: Cislunar SSA, Astrodynamics, Space Situational/Domain Awareness (SSA/SDA), Restricted Three-Body Problem, Perturbed Two-Body Problem

Utilising Australian National Infrastructure to Support Cislunar Space Domain Awareness (2024)
Timothy Bateman, UNSW Canberra Space; Ken Smart, CSIRO Space and Astronomy; Melrose Brown, UNSW Canberra Space

Keywords: Passive RF, SDA, Cislunar

Adaptive Filtering for Multi-Sensor Maneuvering Cislunar Space Object Tracking (2023)
John Iannamorelli, Purdue University; Keith LeGrand, Purdue University

Keywords: Cislunar, Filtering, Tracking, Space Domain Awareness

Characterizing Cislunar Fragmentations (2023)
Arly Black, Purdue University; Carolin Frueh, Purdue University

Keywords: cislunar, SSA, fragmentation

Cislunar Debris from Halo Object Breakups (2023)
Charles J. Wetterer, KBR; Christopher Craft, KBR; Jason Baldwin, Complex Futures LLC; Micah Dilley, KBR; Paul Billings, KBR; John Gaebler, KBR; Jill Bruer, AFRL

Keywords: Cislunar, Debris, Sustainability

Cislunar Initial Orbit Determination using CAR-MHF (2023)
Paul Billings, KBR / Pacific Defense Solutions; Jason Baldwin, Complex Futures LLC; Charles J. Wetterer, KBR; John Gaebler, KBR; Christopher Craft, KBR; Micah Dilley, KBR; Jill Bruer, AFRL

Keywords: Cislunar, IOD, Constrained Admissible Region

Cislunar Initial Orbit Determination with Optical Tracklets (2023)
John Gaebler, KBR; Keric Hill, KBR; Charles J. Wetterer, KBR

Keywords: Cislunar, IOD, MPC, Track Initiation, UCT association

Cislunar Tracking and Orbital Projection of Artemis I using Small Aperture Telescope (2023)
W. Jody Mandeville, InTrack Radar Technologies; Gim Der, InTrack Radar Technologies; Tim McLaughlin, InTrack Radar Technologies; Roger L. Mansfield, InTrack Radar Technologies; Vincent Vella, InTrack Radar Technologies

Keywords: cislunar, small telescope, orbital determination

Contrasting Architectures for Cislunar SDA and STM (2023)
Joshua Wysack, Ball Aerospace; Kevin Ferrant, Ball Aerospace

Keywords: Cislunar, Space Domain Awareness, Space Traffic Management

Deep Learning for Cislunar Object Detection (2023)
Luca Ghilardi, University of Arizona; Roberto Furfaro, University of Arizona; Vishnu Reddy, University of Arizona

Keywords: Cislunar, image processing, transformer, simulation, object identification

Evaluation of Lunar Brightness Observing models for SSA scheduling (2023)
Vincent Vella, First Light Sciences; Celeste Vazquez Lugo, L3Harris

Keywords: Sky brightness, Lunar exclusion, cis-lunar, Moon, photometric bands, full sky survey

Formation Flight Design Near Earth-Moon Lagrange Points for Interferometric Characterization of Cislunar Objects (2023)
Erin Fowler, University of Maryland, College Park; Derek Paley, University of Maryland College Park

Keywords: cislunar, xGEO, formation flight, interferometry, space situational awareness (SSA), space domain awareness (SDA)

Long-term N-body Stability in Cislunar Space (2023)
Travis Yeager, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Kerianne Pruett, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory; Michael Schneider, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Keywords: cislunar, n-body, dynamics, orbit, stability

Monitoring and Tracking Accessible Invariant Manifolds in The Cislunar Regime (2023)
Raymond Wright, Ball Aerospace; Luke Tafur, Ball Aerospace; Naomi Owens Fahrner, Ball Aerospace; Joshua Wysack, Ball Aerospace

Keywords: Space Domain Awareness, Space Situational Awareness, SDA, SSA, Imaging, Orbits, Manifolds

Multi-Spacecraft Predictive Sensor Tasking for Cislunar Space Situational Awareness (2023)
Kento Tomita, Georgia Institute of Technology; Yuri Shimane, Georgia Institute of Technology; Koki Ho, Georgia Institute of Technology

Keywords: Cislunar Space Situational Awareness, Predictive Sensor Tasking, Demand Uncertainty

Novel Tulip-Shaped Three-body Orbits for Cislunar Space Domain Awareness Missions (2023)
Darin Koblick, Raytheon

Keywords: Tulip Orbits, Cislunar, SSA, SDA, CR3B, Multi-Level Shooting, Three Body, N body

Optimizing Distributed Space-Based Networks for Cislunar Space Domain Awareness In the Context of Operational Cost Metrics (2023)
Gregory Badura, Georgia Tech Research Institute; Yuri Shimane, Georgia Institute of Technology; Lois Visonneau, Georgia Tech; Matthew Gilmartin, Georgia Institute of Technology; Stef Crum, Georgia Institute of Technology; Christopher Valenta, Georgia Tech Research Institute; Micheal Steffens, Georgia Institute of Technology; Selcuk Cimtalay, Georgia Institute of Technology; Francis Humphrey, Georgia Institute of Technology; Mariel Borowitz, Office of Space Commerce; Brian Gunter, Georgia Institute of Technology; John Christian, Georgia Institute of Technology; Koki Ho, Georgia Institute of Technology

Keywords: Cislunar SSA, MDAO

Passive RF Observations of Cislunar Objects (2023)
Thomas Joyce, University of Arizona; Ryland Phipps, University of Arizona; Craig Jacobson, University of Arizona; Tanner Campbell, University of Arizona; Adam Battle, University of Arizona; Daniel Estévez, Independent Researcher; Roberto Furfaro, University of Arizona; Vishnu Reddy, University of Arizona

Keywords: Cislunar Space, Tracking, Detection, Passive RF, Radio Frequencies, KPLO, Artemis-1, SSA

Predicting Custody of Objects in Cislunar Space (2023)
Sean O'Neil, MITRE

Keywords: Cislunar SSA, Target Custody, Data Fusion, Performance Predicition

Probabilistic Initial Orbit Determination and Object Tracking in Cislunar Space Using Passive Radio Frequency Sensors (2023)
Erin Griggs, Trusted Space, Inc.; Matt Schierholtz, Trusted Space, Inc; Islam Hussein, Trusted Space, Inc.; Mark Bolden, Trusted Space, Inc.; Kyle Charles, Trusted Space, Inc.; Holly Borowski, Trusted Space

Keywords: Cislunar SSA, Cislunar IOD, Cislunar OD, Passive RF Data, Data Fusion

QuantumNet: A scalable cislunar space domain awareness constellation (2023)
Eric Gorman, Quantum Space; Collin Deans, Quantum Space; Mohamed Nassif, Quantum Space; Elizabeth Frank, Quantum Space

Keywords: QuantumNet: A Scalable Cislunar Space Domain Awareness Constellation, cislunar, SDA, constellation, optimization, pareto, sensor, model

Risks from Spacecraft Breakup Events in Near Rectilinear Halo Orbits (2023)
Nathan Boone, Air Force Institute of Technology; Robert Bettinger, U.S. Air Force; Bryan Little, Air Force Institute of Technology

Keywords: cislunar debris, lunar debris, space debris, NRHO, Lunar Gateway, cislunar space traffic, cislunar breakup events

Robust Cislunar Architecture Design Optimization for Cooperative Agents (2023)
Michael Klonowski, University of Colorado at Boulder; Naomi Owens Fahrner, Ball Aerospace; Casey Heidrich, University of Colorado at Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado at Boulder

Keywords: Cislunar architecture design, cislunar, monte carlo tree search, reinforcement learning, sda, ssa, multi-objective optimization

Strategic Regions for Monitoring Incoming Low-Energy Transfers to Low-Lunar Orbits (2023)
Yuri Shimane, Georgia Institute of Technology; Kento Tomita, Georgia Institute of Technology; Koki Ho, Georgia Institute of Technology

Keywords: Low Energy Transfers, Cislunar SDA, Astrodynamics

Universal Angles-Only Cislunar Orbit Determination Using Sparse Collocation (2023)
Casey Heidrich, University of Colorado Boulder; Marcus Holzinger, University of Colorado Boulder

Keywords: Space Situational Awareness, Space Domain Awareness, Initial Orbit Determination, Cislunar, Collocation, Trajectory optimization

XGEO Spacecraft Observation Methods Using Ground-Based Optical Telescopes (2023)
Kaitlyn Raub, The MITRE Corporation; Gregory Krzystyniak, The MITRE Corporation

Keywords: cislunar, xgeo, small telescopes, imaging, observatory, ground-based opticals, optical sensors, satellites, telescopes, spacecraft