Positioning, Navigating, Timing, Communications, Architecture, Mission Design

ABSTRACT: Azure Summit proposes to leverage ongoing work with DARPA and AFRL Kirtland using CubeSat constellations to mitigate intense SATCOM uplink jamming, and provide an interim asymmetric augmentation that effectively restores that link. This is the Theia concept. CubeSats can be rapidly developed and deployed, and Azure is developing a software-defined radio (SDR) CubeSat payload that can provide relatively low cost, user definable, and field upgradeable space missions. In this proposed effort, Azure will study all three of the described CONOPS for revolutionary PNT, and develop concepts for the Theia PNT system architecture, satellite payloads, and ground terminals needed to realize future experiments to demonstrate and quantify the improvements and benefits. We will consider how to merge these concepts and experiments into future Theia/Constellation space missions, as PNT may be considered to be simply another flexible mission for our software defined payload. BENEFIT: At the end of the Phase I Base effort, Azure will have performed a thorough study that develops one or more revolutionary architectures, algorithms, CubeSat satellite and payload concepts, and user equipment concepts for greatly augmented PNT in certain scenarios and user classes. In Phase II, we will begin to validate the chosen concepts, CONOPS, architectures, and equipment specifications in the real world. The ultimate objective with Theia/Constellation is to find a near-term launch opportunity (an Eagle Mission has been discussed) for a space-based experiment. We will then work with the Air Force and our partner network to find the best path forward to transitioning an operational capability for revolutionary PNT augmentation using Theia concepts and CubeSats.