Rapid Mission Planning for Desirable Viewing Conditions

ABSTRACT: In this SBIR proposal, tOSC will present a Web-based service application that incorporates a very fast-running, parallel implementation of the AFRL Time-domain Analysis Simulation for Advanced Tracking (TASAT), plus turbulence analysis tools (MATLAB-based tOSC product AOTOOLS), to generate and compare ground-based observations of satellite passes. The TASAT code specifically uses AFRL 3D CAD models of a large set of satellites to assess the radiometry and observations at very high fidelity. The Web service will implement algorithms that use two major metrics to decide which are the best passes, namely, radiometry (Signal to Noise Ratio, or SNR) and turbulence impacts (resolution, SNR). The idea is to collect"useful"data each and every time, in a comprehensive, fast-running mission planning tool for ground-based observatories. Our approach has at least 3 major innovations, namely: (1) Web-service based mission planning software that wraps TASAT; (2) An updated and detailed sensor model to the existing TASAT generic sensor, to specifically include physically detailed Focal Plane Array (FPA) and Read-Out Integrated Circuit (ROIC) components; and (3) Both pre- and post-diction components so that the mission planning can be continually updated to provide an optimal set of data collections. BENEFIT: The product enables rapid mission planning with existing software and satellite models, for reduced cost. It determines the best site for observations, from a set.