Strategic Collection for Rapid Return to Continuous Monitoring for Deep Space Wide Area Search and Tasked Sensors

ABSTRACT: The goal of the proposed research in response to solicitation AF141-015 is to develop a collection concept of operations and software prioritized in the geosynchronous (GEO) and super-synchronous regimes using optical telescopes to maintain custody of objects and to detect and revisit new objects that enter the space, thereby enhancing the Space Situational Awareness (SSA) capabilities of the United States. Applied Defense Solutions (ADS) researchers and our Pacific Defense Solutions (PDS) and Texas A & M University teammates propose to do this by more efficiently allocating existing sensors and by maximizing the informational return of the data they collect. Improving the situational awareness and data-collection capabilities of existing and new optical telescopes can result in orders of magnitude improvements in awareness. This can be achieved by basing the situational awareness and data-collection capabilities of existing sensors on rational, information-centric criteria. In Phase I, ADS will show the necessity of using the Finite Set Statistics (FISST), information reward and stochastic optimization methodologies and demonstrate the scientific merit and feasibility of these concepts when employed to automated multi-telescope scheduling aimed at maximizing awareness (by maintaining custody via systematic revisit of existing objects and detect/discover new objects) of man-made objects. BENEFIT: With the successful completion of Phase I, a successfully-running TASMAN-like simulation environment that implements Finite Set Statistics (FISST) and Information State Receding Horizon Control (ISRHC) for GEO/super-synchronous RSO population inference and optimal sensor tasking will be developed. The algorithms will be able to efficiently maintain custody, detecting changes and new dim objects and characterize cued and uncued targets. The algorithm will be able to quantify the likelihood of follow-up detection (one of FISST"s standard capabilities). If implemented in SSA systems, it is anticipated that the data collected from the optical sensors will provide orders of magnitude improvement in data quality and awareness of the GEO/super-synchronous environment, which will lead to increased U.S. capability in predicting and responding to space-related threats. Phase II would continue to transition the solution to operational software and a decentralized near-real-time web-services to be tested in Maui.