UK needs and capabilities for Space Situational Awareness
- Paper number
IAC-08.B4.4.A6
- Author
Dr. Adam M. Baker, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Dr. Stuart Eves, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Coauthor
Mr. Alex da Silva Curiel, Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd., United Kingdom
- Year
2008
- Abstract
Space Situation Awareness (SSA) is a task which requires significant coordination between elements of the overall surveillance architecture. The levels of interaction and complexity within this architecture are expected to increase as, (in an attempt to provide greater security for the “critical international infrastructure” which space systems now represent), nations around the globe endeavour to put in place the enhanced collection systems that will be required to provide timely “space traffic control”. In particular the European Union relies on the continued integrity of space systems and has acknowledged a major capability gap in its ability to monitor key assets. The paper will consider the differing signatures provided by both active and inactive satellites, and also the other space-based phenomena such as debris, micrometeorites and solar activity, that would be need to be measured in order to provide a comprehensive SSA system. The paper will then address the most effective sensors to provide the required SSA measurements in different orbital regimes. The most appropriate sensors are likely to be different for LEO and GEO simply because of the ranges involved, and the impact that this has on the physical design of the SSA sensors. SSTL recently began developing a microsatellite platform in the 150kg range to meet the non-Earth pointing and rapid slewing capability required for tracking resident space objects in the 6000-40000km altitude range, and expects to launch the first mission in late 2010. This paper will discuss such a resident space object observing mission. Having established the range of sensor types that would be required, and discussed a potential platform for their deployment the paper will consider the cueing interactions between these sensors that would be needed in order to ensure a efficient system. This paper will further address the range of in-space asset health monitoring spacecraft which could be deployed to improve security in the vicinity of critical missions. We summarise the SNAP-1 nanosatellite, flight tested in 2000; the recently developed Palmsat which duplicates the majority of SNAP-1 performance parameters in a 1kg package; and the innovative PCBSat which could be deployed in large numbers as a distributed space system, requiring only 100g mass to function as an independent sensing node. The paper will conclude by highlighting those elements of the overall system which are not yet in place, and indicating how these capability gaps might be filled by small space-based surveillance assets.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B4.4.A6.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.