Sensor Service Life Extension Program

Abstract

Space Situational Awareness (SSA) is knowledge of all aspects of space related to operations. As the foundation for space control, SSA encompasses surveillance of all space objects and activities; detailed reconnaissance of specific space assets; monitoring space environmental conditions; monitoring cooperative space assets; gathering intelligence on adversary space operations; and conducting integrated command, control, communications, processing, analysis, dissemination, and archiving activities. SSA also encompasses the integration, exploitation and delivery of data sources to facilitate the battle management and command and control of space forces. This program element fields, upgrades, modifies, modernizes, operationalizes, operates and maintains Air Force sensors and information integration capabilities within the SSA Space Surveillance network (SSN) while companion program element 1206425F, Space Situational Awareness Systems, develops new network sensors and improved information integration capabilities across the network. Activities funded in this program element (1203940F) focus on surveillance of objects in earth orbit to aid tasks including satellite tracking; space object identification; tracking and cataloging; satellite attack warning; notification of satellite flyovers to U.S. forces; space treaty monitoring; and technical intelligence gathering. The 67A017 project funds efforts to upgrade, operationalize and extend the life of operational SSA sensors, as needed. Through Service Life Extension Programs (SLEPs) the following types of activities are performed, but is not limited to, programs that extend the serviceable life of assets and maintain critical capability by replacing aging and increasingly unsustainable components with modern and sustainable equipment. In addition, the SLEP itself may be designed to increase capabilities not currently realized. As the need arises in the execution year, funds in this project may be used to begin SLEPs on additional efforts. Global Sensor Watch Program provides an integrated SSA Tip and Cue capability that implements a survivable architecture which provides overlapping, assured, and viable surveillance options for executing event response (demonstrated by the SSA Ops Demo), multiple level security processing of SSA data and automated cross-sensor tipping and cueing around the globe. Other efforts to support Battle Management Command & Control (BMC2) in space include developing & deploying advanced software algorithms to identify, acquire, characterize, and maintain custody of deep space (S)High Inclination Orbits(HIO); optimizing intelligence community & Missile Defense Agency (MDA) sensors to better support BMC2; developing & executing Joint Functional Component Command (JFCC) for Space exercises such as Joint Space Operations Center (JSPOC) Experimentation, Test and Training Initiative (JETTI) to test & optimize Space Control capabilities, concept of operations (CONOPS) development to increase probability of survival for blue assets, and refining requirements across space enterprise; enhancing sensor performance to close the solar exclusion gap leveraging technologies such as optical daylight tracking; and improving legacy communication paths to support bi-directional machine-to-machine sensor communications enabling a more complete BMC2 capability. Ground Based Radar Upgrades improve the sensitivity, search capabilities and CONOPS of existing SSA sensors to better support custody and fire control timelines.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
• Source ID: 67A017_1203940F_7_3600_PB_2018

Tags

Readers

• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.
• Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space
• Space - Satellites
• Space - Space Objects