Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) Sensor Technology
Abstract
Develop and demonstrate a resilient and unified military data transport layer, enabled by a pLEO architecture. This effort will demonstrate capability to provide very low-latency (low or high bandwidth) data between any two points on the globe to enable mission-agnostic battle management, command, control, and communications (BMC3). This effort will leverage technologies developed under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Blackjack program and, wherever feasible, leverage commercial industry approaches to provide broadband internet access from space to form the foundation of the transport layer architecture. Some accomplishments with FY 2020 funding include the following efforts: - Demonstrating and characterizing space-to-space, space-to-air, and space-to-ground optical intersatellite link (OISL) performance with two spacecraft in LEO. The spacecraft are expected to launch in FY 2021. - Conducting a series of in-flight communications demonstrations with OISL. - Developing a spacecraft equipped with Link 16 transmit and receiving capabilities enabling beyond-line-of-sight Link 16 connectivity to various assets in theater. This is the first demonstration of a space-based Link 16 terminal and serves an important risk reduction role in preparing to proliferate tactical data link connectivity in the National Defense Space Architecture (NDSA).
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2022
- Source ID
- 970dbee9314c85ddda791f0b3f2ad644