Field and Modeling Test Bed for Plume Detection through Sunlit Clouds

Early Launch Detection and Tracking (ELDT) is emerging as a key component of US ballistic missile defense strategy. The complications of sunlit cloud cover and long slant path viewing make the problem extremely challenging and have thus far hindered thevalidation of proposed approaches. Spectral Sciences, Inc. (SSI), in collaboration with Northrop Grumman Space Systems (NGSS), proposes to develop a validated simulation and field test bed for rigorous evaluation of ELDT algorithm and sensor concepts. Wealso propose a novel VIS-SWIR multispectral, real-time algorithm and sensor concept for detecting missiles under sunlit clouds. In Phase I, a missile-plume-under-cloud capability will be added to SSI's MCScene first-principles scene simulation code andfeasibility calculations performed for evaluating our new ELDT detection concept. In Phase II, MCScene will be integrated and validated with the NGSS Surveillance and Reconnaissance Testbed (SART) facility at Mt. Wilson, CA, and a sensor breadboard fielddemonstration of the proposed and other promising ELDT concepts will be conducted. It is anticipated that the new MCScene module developed under this program will be made available for use in MDA's Battlespace Environment Signature Toolkit (BEST). Boththe detection concept and test bed will address outstanding problems in ballistic and theater missile defense for the US government. In addition, the developed image simulation and analysis software and SART facility enhancements would be valuable in avariety of government and commercial hyperspectral and multispectral imagery applications, which include surveillance, target detection and identification, technical intelligence, environmental characterization, oceanography, precision agriculture,forestry, geology, and pollutant and fugitive emission monitoring.