System F6
Abstract
The objective of the System F6 program is to demonstrate the feasibility and benefits of a satellite architecture wherein the functionality of a traditional "monolithic" spacecraft is replaced by a cluster of wirelessly-interconnected spacecraft modules. Each such "fractionated" module would contribute a unique capability, e.g., computation and data handling, communications relay, guidance and navigation, payload sensing, etc., or it can replicate the capability of another module. The fractionated modules would fly in a loose, proximate cluster orbit capable of semi-autonomous reconfiguration or a rapid defensive scatter/re-gather maneuver. Critical to this architecture is a robust, system-level approach to ensuring security, integrity, and availability, while implementing authentication and non-repudiation. While delivering a comparable mission capability to a monolithic spacecraft, System F6 significantly enhances architectural and programmatic adaptability and robustness-reducing risk through the mission life and spacecraft development cycle, enabling incremental deployment of the system, and enhancing survivability. The System F6 architecture provides valuable options to decision makers throughout the life cycle development of future space systems that are absent in present-day monolithic architectures. The System F6 program will culminate in an on-orbit demonstration of a multi-module space system incorporating the F6 Technology Package-a suite of technologies, components, and algorithms which enables semi-autonomous multi-body cluster flight and secure, distributed, real-time sharing of various spacecraft resources at the cluster level. Multiple version of the F6 Technology Package will be developed on the basis of open-source interface standards, software, and reference designs. The on-orbit demonstration will be capable of accommodating one or more spacecraft payload modules supplied by a third-party mission partner. Residual capability to support future payloads with the existing on-orbit infrastructure will also remain, and the infrastructure can be upgraded for a perpetual on-orbit resource capability. The utility of the F6 architecture in low earth orbit (LEO) is significantly enabled by persistent broadband connectivity to the ground which allows resource sharing between space-based modules and terrestrial network nodes. A solution to enable high-availability, low-latency, persistent, high-bandwidth communications with LEO spacecraft will be developed in the course of the F6 program. The anticipated transition partner is the Air Force, though the architecture will have the ability to simultaneously accommodate payloads from multiple other partners including the Army and Navy, the resultant architecture is expected to significantly lower the barrier to entry and enhance competiveness of the national security space industrial base.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Accomplishment
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2012
- Source ID
- e3c8b4f25f0f986b8815683fcfec9bb3