Persistant Launch Range Surveillance, Phase I

Launch site infrastructure and space vehicle assets represent multi-billion dollar investments that must be protected. Additionally, personnel and equipment must be protected against the hazards of launch operations. PercepTek's approach to the launch site surveillance and security problem will enable multiple platforms and sensing modalities to support detection, classification, tracking, and unmanned system response. Our comprehensive system approach to launch site surveillance and security provides support for heterogeneous assets involved in security functions with a focus on the Aerostat platform. An Aerostat platform will be outfitted with GMTI radar to provide wide area coverage and an EO/IR sensor pod for high resolution video detection and tracking. Phase I will result in a detailed set of design reference scenarios tailored to the surveillance and security problem, identification of system level elements necessary to address the needs of launch site security, a system architecture design based on the Autonomous Collaborative Operations autonomy architecture, and a feasibility demonstration of key technology components that would be installed on an Aerostat platform. Phase II will result in a fieldable prototype surveillance and security system utilizing an outfitted Aerostat platform. At the completion of the Phase I activities, component technologies with be at a TRL-4 level.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.