On Orbit Acquisition and Capture via Open Mission System Enabled Distributed Sensor Swarms

A single small satellite can’t match the capabilities of a much larger spacecraft and may not be suitable for the same missions, collectively however small satellites in an autonomous networked constellation offers a unique capability and advantage. Currently military operators use manual processes to assess availability and coordinate use of sensors, communications, satellites, weapons, and other assets across domains. A constellation of small satellites organized in a peer to peer mesh network provides a medium for Command and Control (C2) enabling autonomously coordinated sensor formations ranging from a few small satellites (nodes) to hundreds. Additionally, each node must have autonomous sense and avoid or space situational awareness ability to avoid other non-cooperative objects not in the network. Conversely this same sense and avoid algorithms can be used for autonomous On-Orbit acquisition, approach, and capture of orbital objects. This project will develop a notional design that meets the CONOPS for on On-Orbit Acquisition using DOD Open Mission Standards-OMS, Space Situational Awareness, and automation of ground segments.