Tech Track Papers

Tech Track Papers Archive

Broadband Satellite Service Architectures – Broadband that Moves to Where the Fight Is and Where the Fight Will Go

Categories: >

The current view of warfighter satellite communication is based on individual, independent mission-specific systems supporting operations within a particular area of interest. Today’s satellite communication systems support mission specific needs, such as Blue Force Tracking, Brigade Combat Team headquarters, Airborne ISR, etc. Each of these individual systems typically operates within the same area of interest…

Read More

Influence of Orbital Debris on Space Architecture Efficacy

Categories: >

This study examines how orbital debris may affect the efficacy of space architectures over the next decade. Parametrical modeling in two dimensions is performed to examine sensitivities related to space architectures under the influence of the growing space debris hazard. The two dimensions include (1) three debris environment scenarios and (2) three low Earth orbit…

Read More

MicroCathode-Cold Gas Hybrid Propulsion System – BRICSat-T

Categories: >

The United States Naval Academy’s Autonomous On-Orbit Diagnostic System (AMODS) offers a low-cost solution to maintain, and diagnose or repair satellites that are currently on-orbit. The program utilizes a fleet of 3U Cube satellites: one BRICSat-T, or “tug” and up to six repair, or RSat units. BRICSat-T provides the sole propulsive support to move RSat…

Read More

Smallsat Ground Systems, a C2 to RF Integrated Approach

Categories: >

The growth of the small sat industry has been driven by design and manufacturing advances that have reduced satellite size, production costs and time and launch costs.  The same transformation has to occur in the ground segment.  Like large, traditional satellites, small satellites require command and control software, data processing, networking and RF signal processing. What they…

Read More

The CubeSat Paradigm: An Evolutionary Approach to Satellite Design

Categories: >

Traditional satellite development programs involve extensive careful engineering analyses, modeling, testing, and mission assurance processes. Development programs can span many years; in some cases more than a decade can elapse between program initiation and first launch.  In contrast, agile space programs, and particularly CubeSats, reduce the development effort to levels that allow program durations measured in…

Read More

A system engineering and acquisition approach for software resiliency

Categories: >

Software intensive space satellite systems have vulnerabilities which our adversaries can exploit and may also be susceptible to insider threat.  From a system perspective, one must also consider the resiliency and security of the system architecture, software, hardware, and other components throughout the system life cycle.  Robust software engineering practices contribute to the foundation of a resilient…

Read More

Commercial Space Transportation and Air Traffic Insertion

Categories: >

Commercial Space Transportation becomes an international business and requires landing opportunities all over the world. Hence the integration of space vehicles in other airspace than the US NAS is an important topic to be considered. The Single European Sky ATM Research Programme (SESAR) is preparing the implementation of a new ATM system in Europe. The…

Read More

Design Progress and Flight Results for the Autonomous Mobile On-orbit Diagnostic System (AMODS)

Categories: >

The United States Naval Academy is developing an Autonomous Mobile On-orbit Diagnostic System (AMODS) to provide all-purpose distributable on-orbit assessment and repair capabilities. To overcome traditional cost and technological hurdles, AMODS comprises a multiple CubeSat arrangement wherein one self-propelled transport CubeSat (BRICSat) will deliver one of several “repair” CubeSats (RSats) with manipulable arms to spacecraft…

Read More

Developing an Adaptive OPIR Exploitation Framework

Categories: >

The OPIR community is face-to-face with the challenge of supporting a rapidly changing Battlespace Awareness (BA) mission landscape.  Increasing data accuracy and timely data feeds are providing critical real-time information and as a result, exploiting OPIR-based sensor data have become even more critical to the warfighter.  While steeped in the missile warning culture that demands perfection, the…

Read More

Developing and Distributing a CubeSat Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) Reference Model – Status

Categories: >

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is a key practice to advance the systems engineering discipline, and the International Council on Systems Engineering (INCOSE) has established the MBSE Initiative to promote, advance, and institutionalize the practice of MBSE. As part of this effort, the INCOSE Space Systems Working Group (SSWG) Challenge Team has been investigating the applicability…

Read More