Lauren Hale, The Aerospace Corporation; Justin C. Last, The Aerospace Corporation; Jordan Denamur-Paul, The Aerospace Corporation; Richard Barber, The Aerospace Corporation
Keywords: Space Situational Awareness, Space Domain Awareness, Sensor Calibration, Allies, Partners, Data Sharing, Sensors, Space Policy, Calibration, Sharing Agreements, Interoperability,
Abstract:
Introduction
Observers have long called for the United States national security space enterprise to be more interoperable with allies to achieve US and allied goals. But nations contributing to coalition Space Domain Awareness (SDA) face barriers to such interoperability. The US has found it difficult to incorporate SDA data from allies and partners due to many technical challenges and policy constraints. For example, the sensor calibration requirements the US placed upon its allies sensors, and the condition that US needs for the allied sensors take priority over partner needs, created roadblocks to greater integration. However, recent US adoption of a more flexible calibration approach; newly designed tiered data integration levels; and updated, reconceptualized sharing agreements showcase progress is being made in improving interoperability with international partners for space domain awareness.
This paper focuses on these innovative solutions, accomplished within current national and DoD-level policy and strategy, the US will better leverage international capabilities for Space Domain Awareness (SDA) data sharing. These successes point a way ahead for the US and its allies to achieve closer integration in space operations. Shifting outmoded operational paradigms and questioning rigid legacy practices can do much to enable immediate integration of partner data.
A BETTER WAY: Tiered Approach to Integrating Allies Space Surveillance Data
Instead of insisting that international partners first meet the highest standard, a more inclusive way is to ask them to meet the most minimal standards to start, and as the relationship develops create paths to meet ever higher standards. The United States began exploring this tiered integration approach to work with partners on areas of mutual interest. Tiered integration enables closer cooperation and collaboration with allies and partners, grounded in specific data needs. As one would expect, most allies and partners initially come to the table with sensor data that isnt ready for full and automated integration with the U.S. Space Surveillance Network. USSFs updated calibration criteria enable USSPACECOM to employ data from multinational partners for specific missions based on confidence in precise sensor performance.
The Next Step
But more can be done. In addition to the tiered process for integrating partner sensor data, the United States must develop a scalable and adaptable method for integrating allies and partners into space operations beyond just SDA. While enhanced SDA is the current focus, integration of a variety of different types of allied data could enhance U.S. capabilities in such activities as human spaceflight safety; Position, Navigation, and Timing; and other activities, and those endeavors may have different parameters for integration of allied data contributions. But to get to this new approach, the United States should reach agreements not by the traditional method of creating individual sensor-by-sensor agreements but instead nation-to-nation agreements, likely centered on Space Operations Center-level (SpOC-level) cooperation.
In the SpOC-level relationship, the United States does not exert direct control over the sensor and would not need to negotiate data formats for taskings and observations with individual sensors as has been the case with sensor-centered agreements. Instead, in SpOC-level cases, the United States interacts with the partner SpOC and the partner SpOC tasks its own sensor network and collects the data before relaying it back to United States. The United States and its allies never have a need to interface directly with each others sensor. This one change enables fewer data formats from fewer sources that need to be translated prior to use and will make the timely machine-to-machine transfer of observation data easier to maintain. Moreover, SpOC-level sharing agreements enable a repeatable process and a deeper partnership between the two nations.
Challenges to Space Operations Center-level Agreements
But it is not just international partners who need to adjust. To best capitalize on allied contributions, the United States must accept that it cannot demand its allies act just because the United States wants them to. Instead, the United States has to accept that it must request help. As the new national SpOCs come online among U.S. allies, and they begin tasking their national sensors networks, U.S. calls for data from allies will be in the form of a request rather than an order. As the ally or partner SpOC is able, it will task its sensor network to meet U.S. needs, but it cannot be guaranteed that every U.S. call for data will be met. This presents a challenge for US space forces, which will need to update its tasking algorithms to account for re-tasking of US Space Surveillance Network (SSN) sensors to cover requests that allies and partners are unable or unwilling to fulfill.
Conclusion
USSF and USSPACECOM innovators are lowering perceived barriers to SDA data sharing. Progress is being made in integrating space operations with partners, accepting multinational space surveillance data, and developing closer operational ties with multinational partners. But more work remains to be done, and these proposed innovations offer improved collaboration with partner nations and a template for increasing combined operations in the space domain. By focusing on these innovative operational-level solutions, along with further refinement of national and DoD-level policy and strategy, the US will improve SDA data sharing, strengthening collaboration with key allies and partners, and thereby enhance integrated deterrence.
Date of Conference: September 27-20, 2022
Track: SSA/SDA