Demonstrations/Prototypes
Abstract
Demonstrations and prototypes mature and prove viability of OPIR technologies, missions, and performance with ground and on-orbit prototypes. They enable transition of improved capabilities to full scale architectures and inform critical decisions for future fielding as well as support maturation of Mission Data Processing (MDP) algorithms for tactical and strategic applications by providing additional sensors and algorithms to advance detection and tracking. The Missile Track Custody Demo leverages the Missile Track Custody Digital Engineering Risk Reduction effort, to support a digital engineering demonstration and prototype development that will prove the capability to track emerging missile threats outlined in the Missile Warning (MW) Missile Defense (MD) Capability Development Document (CDD). The effort assesses the feasibility of missile tracking from Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) with ground based hardware in-the-loop simulations and on-orbit satellites. The primary mission of the digital engineering effort is to show the feasibility of providing track custody data from post-boost to burn-out of dim upper stage missiles. The Missile Track Custody Digital Engineering Risk Reduction effort will fill noted knowledge gaps identified by the Integrated OPIR Missile Warning & Missile Defense Interagency Team by developing digital models and engineering development units. Space Systems Command's Missile Track Custody Demonstrations, combined with Space Development Agency and Missile Defense Agency (MDA) OPIR system data, are critical to the future combined missile warning and defense architecture. The effort will carry two mission payload vendor designs through Mission Payload Critical Design Review (CDR) in FY 2022 and has contract options to build, test, integrate and launch up to six Space Vehicles (SV) into MEO followed by on-orbit experimentation and support. The effort will deliver CDR level designs and digital models to the USSF and OSD for detailed architecture analysis. The Wide Field Of View (WFOV) demonstration matures WFOV technology and validates multi-mission capabilities including the potential for a single sensor to simultaneously perform strategic and tactical missions. WFOV is ready for launch in FY 2022. Collection of on-orbit WFOV data is critical to develop algorithms to process large data set generated by emerging large format focal planes and reduce risk for future architectures. The WFOV payload and bus are separate development efforts. The WFOV testbed program provides a bus capable of demonstrating on-orbit mission performance and mitigating the development risks for employing WFOV sensors. The testbed program will integrate, test, and launch a prototype WFOV payload with a government owned free flyer spacecraft. The WFOV testbed will host the WFOV payload. As an integrated SV, the WFOV system will prove on-orbit mission performance of WFOV sensors. The WFOV payload will provide the critical on-orbit data required to develop and validate WFOV algorithms, as well as on-board MDP throughput requirements for strategic missile warning. A OSD/CAPE Missile Warning and Missile Tracking Analysis of Alternatives concluded in FY 2021 and recommended a MEO warning and tracking layer solution. The Missile Track Custody Demonstration and prototype provides the fastest and most efficient MEO solution by leveraging on-going risk reduction efforts and expanding into a full flight demonstration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- d0bcf901a9f61fd33a9b6ec584ded496
Related Documents
- Root: Next Generation OPIR