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SPACE SURVEILLANCE AND TRACKING

EMMET FLETCHER Space Surveillance and Tracking Manager Space Situational Awareness Programme Office

Background, progress and future developments

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BACKGROUND

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• Europe Depends on Space

–Communications

–Navigation

–Weather Forecasting (Space and Earth)

–Time Reference

–Climate Change Monitoring

–Disaster Management

–Earth Observation (Agriculture, Planning)

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source: NASA

Space is getting congested

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size number % total mass

> 10 cm > 20,000 99.93

1 – 10 cm > 600,000 0.035

< 1 cm > 35,000,000 0.035

total > 35,000,000 > 6,000 tons

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Video courtesy of Kevin Fetter: www.kfetter.com

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AN EFFECTIVE SPACE PROTECTION SYSTEM

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COMPONENTS OF AN SST SYSTEM

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SST DEVELOPMENTS IN PHASE 1

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PREPARATORY PROGRAMME WORK Sensor Evaluation

CO-VI: Existing Sensor Evaluation CO-VIII: Coordinated Surveillance Campaign

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Evaluated Sensors

Optical (Surveillance) La Sagra (E) Tarot (F) TFRM (E) Starbrook (UK) Zimmerwald (CH)

Radar (Surveillance) EISCAT (FI, N, SE) Medicina (I)

Optical (Tracking) OGS (ESA) La Sagra (E) Starbrook (UK) Zimmerwald (CH)

Radar (Tracking) Chilbolton (UK) EISCAT (FI, N, SE) Medicina (I) Monge (F)

Other Graz (A)

Laser Ranging

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PREPARATORY PROGRAMME WORK Systems and Applications

CO-VI: Conjunction Warning Database/Catalogue Design CO-VIII: Advanced Conjunction Prediction Tech. Re-entry Prediction SOA Integration DC-II: Scheduling/Tasking Data Processing Catalogue Maintenance

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PHASE 2 GOALS

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SensorsSurveillance

- Optical- Radar

Tracking- Optical - Radar- Laser

Other- External Network- Owner/Operator

(A)Data Generation

(Track Processing)Orbit Determination

CorrelationCovariance

Propagation

(B)Data Processing

Data RetrievalArchiving

Data ValidationData Request

(C)Data Storage

Conjunction Prediction

Re-EntryPrediction

FragmentationDetection

(D)Product

Preparation

Web/E-Mail

Collision Warning

Re-Entry Alerts

FragmentationAlerts

(E)Product

Dissmination

Validation – Monitoring – Control

Operations – Maintenance

Architectural Design

Technical Support and Consultancy

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Goals • Evaluation of sensors from participating Member States

• Investigate technology/experiences/developments from new participating Member States

• Research high-performance technologies

• Consolidate reference models » benchmark developments, testing tools, performance compliance

• Refine data processing chain algorithms / technologies » observations, data fusion, orbit determination, correlation, propagation, cataloguing

• Improve current application design (deployment approach, reliability) » Evolve system to future CO-II architecture

• Add additional applications (fragmentation, mission support) » In accordance to the MRD / CRD

• Investigate novel debris detection systems (such as laser ranging)

• Ensure compliant/efficient security systems for dual-use

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Activities in 2013

• P2-SST-101: Development of Supporting Analysis Software and International Standard Validation (Q3 2013) 12 months

» Develop toolbox and techniques to be used as development benchmarks

» Support to the development of international standards for interoperability

• P2-SST-303: Requirements Analysis of an Expert site for Federated Satellite Laser Ranging Observations (Q3 2013) 12 months

» Examine potential benefits, synergies, challenges related to the implementation of an expert site for federated laser ranging

• P2-SST-401: Requirements Analysis of an Expert site for Federated Optical Observations (Q3 2013) 12 months

» Examine potential benefits, synergies, challenges related to the implementation of an expert site for federated optical observations

• P2-SST-404: Acquisition of radar observations in support for the SST end-to-end validation and technology development (Q4 2013) 12 months

» Evaluate available European Radar (EISCAT, Medicina etc.) » Investigate federation of radar data, approach to data fusion and tasking

• P2-SST-801: SST segment technical support (Q4 2013) 24 months » Provide specific expertise and assistance within SST

Total budget: 1,400 k€ (excluding common & architecture activities)

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EISCAT and ESA SST

• Space Surveillance and Tracking is easy (!) • Critical components include

– Space Surveillance – Data Processing Chain – User Output

• 3 or 4 surveillance radar in Europe • EISCAT now offers a source of tracking data • EISCAT 3D offers a potential source of surveillance data • EISCAT now and in the future could provide vital

observation data – how much? • P2-SST-404 will help define how EISCAT/3D could

contribute

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Questions to answer • What technical hurdles still remain?

• What can EISCAT offer today?

• Reduce the TRL for vital elements?

• How could data-distribution work?

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Thank you

contact: emmet.fletcher@esa.int @emmetfletcher programme: www.esa.int/ssa sst.ssa.esa.int

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