Joseph Gerber, Tech7; Gregory Badura, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI); Johann Bell, Australian Department of Defense; Kruger White, Defence Science and Technology Group, Australia
Keywords: Space Operations, Machine-to-Machine, Integration, SpOC, Automation, Characterization
Abstract:
The Joint Commercial Operations (JCO) and Combined Space Operations (CSpO) Architecture Working Group (CAWG) teams conducted a series of collaborative experiments to explore techniques in distributed space operations utilizing an innovative new service known as ‘Space Operations Event Ledgers’. Event Ledgers are data structures representing all objects in a specified scenario. Event Ledgers enable the rapid distribution of these scenarios to multiple space operations cells and applications. The objective of the experiment was to demonstrate that distributed space operations could be conducted between geographically and programmatically disparate groups, each utilizing their own sovereign tools and across multiple classification levels. The need for this capability was identified by the CAWG, which recognized that one of the critical deficiencies in effective multi-national space operations centers (SpOC) collaboration was the lack of a unified machine-to-machine (M2M) transfer protocol. Many SpOC have no effective method for electronically communicating on-going real world space operations. For example, if there was an active space threat such as an adversary performing one of the following: direct ascent anti-satellite, rendezvous and proximity operation (RPO), or conjunction, how would these be rapidly disseminated? The core issue was “how would sovereign space operations centers in distinct international SpOC (separated by both geography and classification levels) integrate to exchange common situational awareness at combat operations cadence?” The JCO worked in collaboration with the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) Dragon Army software development team to design and implement a data structure that met these criteria and deployed within the Unified Data Library (UDL). The team embedded it within the JCO/Dragon Army Mission Management Board (MMB) and Synchronization Services (SS) framework. The CSpO CAWG team nominated several candidate vignettes of varying complexity that would demonstrate the utility of the new service. The vignettes proposed included ‘New Foreign Launch (NFL) to Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) RPO’, ‘Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Launch to RPO’, ‘Satellite Re-entry’, and multiple ‘Resident Space Object (RSO) Uncorrelated Track (UCT)’ notifications. The JCO and CAWG then coordinated with the international Sprint Advanced Concept Training (SACT) experiment series to coalesce a diverse set of international stakeholders to prove the efficacy of the new Space Operations Event Ledger concept. The initiative received broad support from government, commercial, and academic institutions within the SACT community. Significant participation included the Australian Defence Science and Technology (DSTG) Research and Development Space Target Awareness and Response (RED STAR) program, Australian and US divisions of Saber Astronautics, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), French commercial company Exotrail, US Exoanalytic (through an initiative with the Defense Innovations Unit (DIU)), Lockheed Martin Australia, and the Canadian company Northstar. The SACT experiments were conducted throughout the week of 12-16 November 2023. The various candidate space operations events were designed by the AFRL Dragon Army using modeling and simulation (M&S) and published in real-time through the UDL. Via the MMB and SS, Space Operations Event Ledgers were periodically published throughout the experiment. The results of the experiments were successful, and each participating stakeholder demonstrated the ability to integrate various Event Ledgers into their unique systems and extend the analyses of the operational event with additional research. This paper examines the design and execution of the CSpO CAWG Event Ledger experiments and promotes the further adaptation of the service throughout the space community. Adoption of the Space Operations Event Ledgers by the broader space community may be a key enabler for collaborative international space operations at combat cadence.
Date of Conference: September 17-20, 2024
Track: Space Domain Awareness