Satellite Ground truth Information Fusion - SatGIF II

ABSTRACT: On-orbit satellite characterization is critically important for space situational awareness (SSA). Determining attitude, configuration, and even identification can be challenging despite numerous sensing capabilities to provide information. Better access and extrapolation of ground-truth data (captured pre-launch) are proving to be useful for on-orbit assessment. The Satellite Ground-truth Information Fusion (SatGIF) is a knowledge management system that will provide innovative data visualizations and displays that support the analysts mental processes and investigatory methods, providing decision aids and alerting capabilities to increase SSA. Currently the effort is focused on assisting AFRL researchers and scientists to improve the capabilities of current systems and demonstrate the value of these capabilities to the operational community. By making baseline data more accessible and meaningful across a wider range of expertise, analysts will have higher confidence in their characterization tasks. BENEFIT: The result of this Phase II effort will provide a knowledge management system that supports visual reasoning in the characterization of satellites. A key functionality will be the leveraging of ground truth and modeling/simulation data to support the management of uncertainty in making determinations of satellite characterization. These techniques, along with the innovative visual reasoning interface that will be designed to facilitate interaction, will prove valuable in other domains in need of information fusion and uncertainty management. SatGIF will further Aptimas objectives in developing models that support decision making and address uncertainty inherent in real world domains. SatGIF will extend several of our innovative projects applying statistical modeling and decision support methods to meet a range of needs in government and commercial markets. With each new project, our knowledge of relevant techniques and research is furthered, promoting the generation of new and innovative ideas.