Simon George, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; Andrew Ash, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory; Travis Bessell, Defence Science and Technology Group; James Frith, AFRL/RVSW; Lauchie Scott, Defence R&D Canada; Jovan Skuljan, Defence Technology Agency; Roberto Furfaro, University of Arizona; Vishnu Reddy, University of Arizona
Keywords: SSA/SDA, astrodynamics, experimentation, observation campaign, GEO rendezvous, tracking, electric propulsion, RPO, orbit determination
Abstract:
Since 2014, the UK, US, Australia, Canada and New Zealand have conducted a series of collaborative, international SDA R&D experiments aligned with the Combined Space Operations Initiative (CSpO); of which, a number were conducted under The Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP). In February 2020, two spacecraft conducted the first commercial, satellite-servicing rendezvous and docking mission in the Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) regime, offering unique opportunities to understand the dynamics and detectability of such activities using ground and space-based sensors. The event, and its preceding dynamics, were used as surrogate targets by the Five-Eyes (FVEYs) nations to demonstrate how allied R&D sensors and processing tools could be integrated within a cloud-based, federated processing workflow to improve space safety for allied spacecraft in GEO.
The experiment, known as PHANTOM ECHOES, possessed two primary aims:
Demonstrate ability to integrate SDA capabilities (software and sensor data) across the FVEYs community into a single framework that enables joint operations and analysis of high-interest events to enhance coalition SDA.
Conduct real-world and simulated observations of targets exhibiting constant-thrust manoeuvre and GEO rendezvous dynamics using FVEYs R&D sensors to understand future operational challenges and possible solutions.
Following MEV-1s launch from Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan) on 9th October 2019, a collaborative (resolved and unresolved) observation campaign was conducted using primarily Electro-Optical sensors (both ground- and space-based) from across the FVEYs R&D architecture to investigate the capability to track and maintain custody of vehicles equipped with constant-thrust Electric Propulsion for Geostationary transfer. To explore this, a federated SDA processing chain was constructed within the University of Arizona VerSSA framework, formed of individual software packages (for image data reduction, astrometric processing, cataloguing/association, initial & high-fidelity Orbit Determination [OD] and exploitation) contributed by all nations.
In this paper, an overview is presented of activity conducted thus far within Phase I of the PHANTOM ECHOES project; describing progress in development and integration of FVEYs SDA tools within a C2 cyberinfrastructure, as well as initial outcomes from real-world and simulated observations of the Mission Extension Vehicle-1 (MEV-1) from launch through to its successful docking with Intelsat-901 on 25th February 2020. The paper also presents plans for Phase II of the PHANTOM ECHOES experiment for which the FVEYs (SDA) S&T community is exploring other surrogate GEO targets which present mission profiles of interest to the SDA community, building on the experiences gained during Phase I.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2020
Track: SSA/SDA