Autonomous Characterization Algorithms for Change Detection and Correlation (ACDC)

ABSTRACT:Weather, intelligence, communications, PNT...are all capabilities we have brought to the fight from the space domain and are relied upon in virtually any and every military operation.Mr. Michael Donley, Former Secretary of the Air Force.The modern warfighter requires freedom of action in space, and when necessary, defeats adversary efforts that interfere or attack US or allied space systems.Freedom of action in space is enabled by Space Situational Awareness (SSA).As space continues to become more congested and contested, our ability to identify and mitigate man-made and natural threats to space assets becomes increasingly difficult.Applying the same resources to a larger data set delays the ability to make informed decisions.With current capabilities, performing an in-depth characterization (ex. mission payload assessment) can take weeks to months, especially if the object is non-cooperative.Timely and effective resident space object (RSO) characterization is a challenge, and requires advanced data processing techniques.A critical first need is the ability to detect and identify photometric signature changes due to potential RSO changes (e.g., stability, material), and correlate these observed changes to potential behavior changes. To meet this technology need, ExoAnalytic Solutions proposes to mature Autonomous Characterization Algorithms for Change Detection and Characterization (ACDC).ACDC is significant because it utilizes cutting edge algorithms rooted in Missile Defense, anchored by a global telescope network producing millions of real-time correlated observations each month.The result is a capability to robustly assess state change detection and improve object correlation.BENEFIT:ACDC provides several key contributions to DOD.Most importantly, ACDC will provide the JSpOC with needed Threat Identifications and Warnings to accomplish its mission, as called out in the latest JMS Increment 3 RFI.The ACDC effort includes the development of a characterization and correlation framework for determining the resources necessary to properly characterize space objects.This framework can be used by JSpOC on current and future systems, and can incorporate government or additional industry algorithms.ACDCs technical approach, the algorithms and infrastructure that will be developed, and lessons learned can all be leveraged to further applied research and technology development for threat indication and warning in the ISR domain as well.