Marcello Chiariello, ARCA Dynamics; Woosang Park, Texas A&M University; Paolo Guardabasso, ARCA Dynamics; Gabriele Conforti, ARCA Dynamics; Kyle Alfriend, Texas A&M University; Dario Spiller, ARCA Dynamics
https://doi.org/10.64861/FCAF6785
Keywords: Space Situational Awareness, Space-Based Observation, Orbit Determination, Satellite Operations
Abstract:
Space-based sensing is emerging as a powerful complement to ground-based Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and is projected to drive a significant share of operational monitoring in Earth orbits and beyond. The increased utilisation of space, especially with large constellations, is currently driving the Space Traffic Management (STM) efforts, which at times lacks the reactivity needed to ensure a safe use of space. This growing operational complexity creates an environment where timely and reliable awareness becomes increasingly important for both commercial and institutional actors. In many cases, operators must respond to evolving situations quickly, and having additional layers of observational capability helps reduce uncertainty. Space-based assets cover this gap by exploiting relative orbital geometry rather than relying on either limited ground station observations or large and expensive networks of sensors. However, space-based data is challenging to obtain and exploit: as observer and target move through space at high relative speeds, measurements can result in short observation arcs, exacerbated by complex relative geometry. Observer state knowledge and accuracy plays a key role in the target orbit determination process. All these additional factors can make conventional, ground-based workflows unsuitable, and catalog reliability can be compromised. As a result, it becomes necessary to consider dedicated processing chains that can operate consistently despite rapidly changing orbital conditions and operational constraints. Robust catalogues are key to producing timely information for conjunction assessments and collision risk reduction, and ground-based measurements would benefit from complementary space-based data.
ARCA Dynamics is among the leading companies pioneering operational space-based SSA and addressing its challenges. An operational pipeline has been put in place, to be able to plan, execute and process space-based acquisitions to obtain state estimations for Resident Space Objects (RSOs). The process is composed of four main segments: a dynamic observation scheduling phase integrating various constraints, including illumination and geometry constraints; an image acquisition by space-based assets; a processing phase exploiting state-of-the-art algorithms fusing positioning and attitude information to extract the object’s Line of Sight (LOS) measurements; and a last phase to use these short-arc LOS measures to estimate the RSO’s positions and covariance with Precise Orbit Determination (POD). The process is currently in use integrating third-party space-based observations, and it is also being adapted to handle proprietary data from ARCA Dynamics’ own platforms and payloads scheduled for launch starting in 2027.
This paper presents the main technical challenges encountered in processing space-based data for satellite tracking. It focuses on the importance of accurate observer attitude knowledge, the POD initialization when the target of the observation is unknown, and the impact of adverse illumination conditions on observations. A solution is proposed for each of the addressed challenges, whether validated or still under development. For the observer’s attitude knowledge problem, the development of a new star tracking algorithm is presented. Concerning the POD initialization, this paper presents a metaheuristic Initial Orbit Determination (IOD) methodology implementation. In addition, a track association algorithm developed in collaboration with the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES) at Texas A&M University (TAMU) is proposed with the aim of being able to correlate IOD derived tracks with catalogued RSOs. When successful, this could help in providing a more accurate initial guess to the POD process leveraging available Two-Line Element (TLE) sets instead of relying on the IOD solution, which is strongly limited by the small portion of orbit covered by a single observation. Finally, the paper introduces ARCA Dynamics’ development of a pioneering passive radio-frequency sensing capability. This technology is being designed to complement optical observations and ensure continuity in adverse lighting conditions. Radio-frequency observations are compatible with eclipse conditions because, even when satellites are not reflecting sunlight, they can still be detected through the scattering of ambient RF signals present in the surrounding space.
The results demonstrate the impact of uncertainties arising from attitude knowledge and short-arc observations on the orbit determination process, and show how the proposed solutions yield significant benefits in terms of the accuracy of the output data. Lessons learned highlight the critical role of accurate observer positioning and attitude knowledge, as well as the importance of implementing a robust IOD algorithm for addressing the challenge of observing unknown RSOs. Future systems development is driven by these insights, towards ARCA Dynamics’ full independence with its own space-based assets. These operational insights also provide a foundation for scaling space-based SSA as data volumes grow. Looking ahead, building stronger connections between diverse sensing infrastructures will likely play a major role in shaping future SSA practices. Synergy between space-based operators and with ground-based systems alike becomes paramount in an increasingly complex orbital environment.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2026
Track: Space-Based Assets