Simon George, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (UK); Grant Privett, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (UK); Paul Chote, University of Warwick; Lauchie Scott, Defence Research and Development Canada; Stefan Thorsteinson, Defence Research and Development Canada; Jovan Skuljan, Defence Science and Technology; Cristina Parigini, University of Auckland; Roberto Armellin, University of Auckland; Jason Alvino, DSTG; Kenneth Smart, CSIRO; Léa Powys, CSIRO; Timothy Bateman, CSIRO; David Schwab, AFRL; James Frith, AFRL
https://doi.org/10.64861/JPAI4051
Keywords: space domain awareness, space situational awareness, astrodynamics, experimentation, orbit determination, observation, cislunar SDA,
Abstract:
With increasing numbers of artificial objects operating in regions of space beyond traditional Earth-centred orbits, there are growing defence and security challenges associated with tracking, characterising and maintaining custody of spacecraft within cislunar space. In particular, significant challenges remain in detecting objects in this regime, as well as in handling their dynamical models. In response, the defence science and technology agencies of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States have cooperated on a series of coordinated space situational awareness (SSA) observation and analysis experiments, observing the dynamics and behaviours of a variety of cislunar spacecraft in order to better characterise (and seek mitigations to) the challenges of sensing in cislunar space. These activities have been performed under the Five Eyes (FVEY) Science and Technology (S&T) memorandum of understanding, as part of a wider research initiative named “PHANTOM ECHOES”. To date, observation campaigns have been performed on a variety of cislunar launches between 2023 and 2026, collecting ground- and space-based data on the Chandrayaan-3, Queqiao-2 and Artemis II missions, among others. These campaigns have demonstrated an ability to collect data on a range of cislunar space missions using data and capabilities within the FVEY S&T network and from commercial data sources, as well as testing candidate sensors and analysis techniques for their wider defence utility. This paper provides a high-level overview of the PHANTOM ECHOES – Cislunar initiative to date; including its objectives, participants, contributing capabilities and activities conducted. Selected findings and results, drawn from key observation campaigns undertaken by the team, are also presented.
Date of Conference: September 15-18, 2026
Track: Cislunar SDA