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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Direct coverage simulations provide a means to evaluate satellite mission performance in terms of spatiotemporal coverage characteristics. Presently available software for direct coverage simulation uses a brute-force approach, leading to long computation times, which can make tradespace analysis across a wide parameter set difficult. The proposed work would promote the development of rapid computational methods for direct coverage simulation of distributed space missions, and extend the direct coverage simulation framework to space based space surveillance constellation design. A direct coverage simulation framework for Earth- orbit would compliment and extend existing analytical techniques for space based space surveillance constellation design. We propose the use of direct coverage simulations as a part of a larger constellation design and optimization problem for resident space object identification and tracking. Space based space surveillance is expected to play a wider role in the US government approach towards space situational awareness in the coming decade. The proposed research would support this effort by examining space based space surveillance as a unique problem in constellation design.
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