Autonomous Navigation and Swarming Software for Responsive Counterspace Operations

Every day, satellites critical to maintaining U.S space superiority face a multitude of threats. Free Space is developing a suite of defensive space systems, including the Guardian Satellite, and a supporting software suite called Trellis to disrupt actions against critical space assets at an extremely low price point. Free Space Guardian Satellites are required to autonomously navigate in unison to reach their targets and conduct complex operations on-orbit. During this effort, Free Space will engage in a technical feasibility study to explore adaptations of the Guardian/Trellis flight software and communications methodologies that can be utilized for these operations in support of the USSF. As a result of the effort described herein, Free Space will identify an empowered system program office customer and an end user organization who will support Free Space’s proposed Phase II prototyping and R&D effort to adapt the Guardian Satellite and Free Space Trellis AI flight software to conduct autonomous navigation and swarming for USSF end use cases.