Autonomous Characterization Algorithms for Change Detection and Correlation (ACDC)

ABSTRACT: The modern warfighter requires freedom of action in space for friendly forces, and when necessary, the ability to defeat adversary efforts that interfere or attack US or allied space systems and to negate adversary space capabilities. Freedom of action in space is enabled by Space Situational Awareness (SSA). The SSA Decision Cycle information bottleneck forces warfighters to make critical decisions with old, inaccurate, or limited information on a limited number of resident space objects (RSOs). Today there is limited capability (and no real-time capability) to exploit EO/IR signatures for characterization. The inability to provide timely RSO characterization from non-resolved imagery creates gaps in our knowledge and forces reliance on more expensive and frequently less available means. The development of Autonomous Characterization Algorithms for Change Detection and Correlation (ACDC) is significant to the US Air Force and broader SSA community because it will enable automated processes to estimate the physical properties of space objects from passively collected photometric signatures. Improved understanding of RSO features (such as stability estimates, material estimates, shape estimates, and attitude estimates) will improve track custody, improve object correlations, reduce cross-tagging, and improve catalog accuracy. BENEFIT: The primary focus for commercialization of Autonomous Characterization Alogorithms for Change Detection and Correlation (ACDC) is to transition the capability to the Joint Space Operations Center (JSpOC). In particular, Team Exo will focus on ensuring a seamless integration of ACDC into ARCADE, which will enable operators to evaluate the impact of ACDC algorithms on their mission execution at JSpOC. In addition, automated characterization algorithms including stability estimation, attitude determination, and change detection have a variety of commercial and civil applications. Current and potential future uses include: detailed characterization for the intelligence community, automated asteroid detection and characterization, commercial space remote monitoring, and initial deployment identification and support for cubesats.