Digital Twins for Trusted Satellite Autonomy

The "Trusted Automated Satellite Operations for Enhanced Mission Life" project embarks on a comprehensive journey to revolutionize spacecraft autonomy, encompassing a broad spectrum of spacecraft subsystems and life cycle phases. The initial phase of the project involves an extensive review of current research in spacecraft autonomy, drawing from academic, civil, and commercial sources. This review aims to collate and analyze the latest advancements, challenges, and trends in autonomous systems applicable to space missions. Concurrently, the project will delve into identifying the requirements for an integrated autonomy suite, focusing on crucial subsystems like guidance, navigation, control, thermal management, propulsion, communications, and payload maintenance. This investigation spans the critical stages of a spacecraftÆs life - from launch and early orbit to normal operations and end of life - ensuring a holistic approach to autonomy that addresses the unique challenges of each phase. In addition to the research and requirements analysis, a significant portion of the project is dedicated to the development and integration of modular autonomous software. This software is designed to be versatile, allowing seamless integration across different subsystems and adaptable to various spacecraft sizes, from compact CubeSats to larger rideshare-class spacecraft. The culmination of this effort is envisioned to be a Critical Design Review (CDR) quality engineering artifact, demonstrating the effectiveness and integration of the autonomy suite. A key component of this phase is the implementation of a software-in-the-loop (SIL) testbed, designed to demonstrate the capabilities of lifecycle autonomy. This testbed will not only validate the functionality of the autonomous systems but also showcase their adaptability and scalability, crucial for a wide array of space missions and spacecraft form factors. Ā