Space Situational Awareness is difficult to obtain and maintain Proliferation is the next fad Technology advancements can be applied to solve this problem Can we, the SSA community, think about the problem in a different way? Is there a more efficient solution

Morris, Keith

Tamanini, Christopher

English

DigitalCommons@USU

Small Sat Conference - VirtualGEO CubeSat Operating Guidelines to Help the SSA CommunityAuthorsChristopher TamaniniKeith Morris© 2020 Lockheed Martin CorporationGEO CubeSat Operating Guidelines 2Context• Space Situational Awareness is difficult to obtain and maintain• This difficulty is magnified in GEO, given the GEO belt’s distance from earth• Proliferation is the next fad• CubeSat’s have proliferated from LEO (2003) to GEO (2020+) • Technology advancements can be applied to solve this problem• More advanced SSA sensors• Can we, the SSA community, think about the problem in a different way?• Combination of sensors and standards• Is there a more efficient solution?• A potential solution is to create CubeSat Operating Guidelines for the GEO belt GEO CubeSat Operating Guidelines 3Example Operating Guidelines1) Operate -300km to +300km of the GEO belt• Station keeping is required for GEO spacecraft • Reduces strain on the SSN - CubeSats would not require the same level of observation in this orbit2) Operate with single fault tolerance to disposal• Some missions require station keeping over a prescribed point on the earth • If utilizing CubeSats, it is imperative to require single fault tolerance to disposal 3) Operate at Geopotential Wells (if applicable)• Wells offer stationary orbital regimes for CubeSat missions• If CubeSats stationed in wells fail, they remain there indefinitelyGEO CubeSat Operating Guidelines 4Example Operating Guidelines4) Considerations for CubeSat constellations• A minimum distance between nodes of the formation • Where in the GEO belt these constellations can be operated (i.e. not near crowded GEO slots) 5) Provide position/velocity data to SSA community• CubeSat operators could be required to provide the SSN with position and velocity data acquired through system operation• Provide position and velocity data recorded before/after the maneuver 6) Include laser retro reflectors• Operators could be required to house a small, directable retro reflector on the CubeSat exterior7) Provide unique signal for each GEO CubeSat• CubeSats sometimes have difficulty distinguishing between downlinks when they are in close proximity   GEO CubeSat Operating Guidelines 5Implementation• Gain recognition from a space oriented international governing body, who could facilitate discussion between industry, operators, and SSA community members • Responsible for enforcing Operating Guidelines• Alternatively, establish a new governing body focused on SSA• Can utilize other organizations as inspiration:• International Telecommunications Union (ITU)• Enables members by having one set of common standards for the industry• U.N.’s Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS) • Emphasizes coordination and agreement between member countries AND commercial space operators• Consortium for Execution of Rendezvous and Servicing Operations (CONFERS)• Publishes notational operating procedures/standards for RPO and OOS• CubeSat manufacturers can also use this international governing body to establish design standards • Important to establish a way to create/edit these guidelines to respond to new industry trends

GEO CubeSat Operating Guidelines to Help the SSA Community

https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4785&amp;context=smallsat

GEO CubeSat Operating Guidelines to Help the SSA Community

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