Major advancements in US space domain awareness through Space Systems Command

Major advancements in US space domain awareness through Space Systems Command
by Staff Writers
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Apr 26, 2024

Space Systems Command (SSC) has made significant strides in space domain awareness (SDA) with its Tools Applications and Processing (TAP) Lab, recently achieving mission success in collaboration with both commercial and academic partners for the Apollo Accelerator Cohort 2 on March 4, 2024.

The SDA TAP Lab orchestrates structured programs like the Apollo Accelerator, which foster collaboration and innovation among U.S. entities including companies, academia, Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs), industry experts, and Guardians to address key challenges. These programs provide mentorship, resources, and opportunities to accelerate growth and innovation, with stages including application, screening, deal negotiation, acceleration, and demo day. This process helps participants refine their solutions to tackle major SDA challenges, showcasing SSC's dedication to fostering innovation in this critical field.

For instance, the startup True Anomaly, which develops spacecraft for satellite inspection and other proximity operations, participated in Cohort 2 of the Apollo Accelerator. Through collaboration in the TAP Lab, they designed an experiment to track the deployment of payloads and cue a radar for acquisition, utilizing data from the recent Transporter-10 mission as a benchmark for the experiment's performance.

Intrack Radar Technologies, another participant, demonstrated its expertise in ground-based radar technologies by accurately predicting the rocket ascent trajectory of the Transporter-10 without prior launch data. Their successful prediction facilitated subsequent tracking by LeoLabs when the payloads entered the southern hemisphere.

Federal President Vic Gardner of LeoLabs stated, "We value the opportunity to partner with other industry participants within our cohort and look forward to collectively improving the timeliness of threat defense kill chains in Low Earth Orbit."

The SDA TAP Lab's ability to rapidly retrieve payloads lost during the mission, producing an orbit (two-line element set) significantly faster than standard procedures, exemplifies the successful integration and improvement of data processes aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.

Major Sean Allen, SSC's Chief of the SDA TAP Lab, emphasized the critical nature of such integrated tests, stating, "This is such an important activity to practice during peacetime. When there is conflict, we won't have the luxury of time...or truth data from our launch provider."

The upcoming Cohort 2 demo day is anticipated to further demonstrate the ongoing progress in space domain awareness and operational readiness. The SDA TAP Lab continues to support innovation in space technology by providing an environment conducive to experimentation and collaboration, bridging the gap between emerging technologies and operational deployment.

With the Unified Data Library (UDL) facilitating access to comprehensive data sets, and the Cross Mission Data organization partnering with the SDA TAP Lab, the Space Force is enhancing its approach to forming organic partnerships that advance space domain awareness. The lab's proactive approach in onboarding transformative applications and closing capability gaps is pivotal in streamlining the integration of cutting-edge technologies into operational frameworks, thereby enhancing national security and resilience in space.

The SDA TAP Lab, created in 2023, serves as a vital component in rapidly deploying software that supplies mission-critical capabilities, with initiatives like "Apps to Close Gaps" evolving through technology adoption. The current cohort, hosted at the Innovation Hub by Virginia Tech Applied Research Corporation, includes notable members across a wide range of sectors contributing to the enhancement of space operations.