Space Situational Awareness

Course Overview

This specialized course addresses the critical domain of Space Situational Awareness (SSA) - the comprehensive knowledge of the space environment, including the tracking and prediction of objects in orbit around the Earth. As orbital space becomes increasingly congested with operational satellites and debris, SSA has emerged as an essential capability for safe space operations. This course provides a thorough understanding of the technical, operational, and policy aspects of SSA, equipping professionals with the knowledge to contribute to safer and more sustainable space operations.

What You'll Learn

Module 1: Fundamentals of Space Situational Awareness

• History and evolution of SSA
• Orbital environment characterization
• SSA stakeholders and their roles
• Current challenges in space domain awareness
• Regulatory and policy frameworks

Module 2: Space Surveillance Networks

• Ground-based optical and radar systems
• Space-based surveillance systems
• Tracking networks and data sharing initiatives
• Sensor limitations and capabilities
• Emerging surveillance technologies

Module 3: Orbit Determination and Prediction

• Observation processing and correlation
• Orbit determination techniques
• Statistical orbit determination
• Propagation methods and accuracy
• Conjunction analysis and prediction

Module 4: Space Debris Environment

• Sources and characteristics of space debris
• Debris population monitoring and modeling
• Long-term evolution of the debris environment
• Debris mitigation guidelines and practices
• Active debris removal concepts

Module 5: Collision Avoidance

• Conjunction detection and risk assessment
• Probability of collision calculation
• Maneuver planning and execution
• Operational collision avoidance processes
• Challenges in collision avoidance for large constellations

Module 6: Space Weather Monitoring

• Solar activity and space weather phenomena
• Effects on spacecraft and operations
• Space weather monitoring systems
• Forecasting methodologies
• Mitigation strategies for space weather events

Module 7: Emerging SSA Capabilities

• Commercial SSA services
• Artificial intelligence applications in SSA
• Space traffic management concepts
• International cooperation in SSA
• Future trends in space domain awareness

Practical Components

The course includes hands-on experience with:

• Orbit determination and propagation software
• Conjunction analysis tools
• Space weather monitoring resources
• Catalog maintenance exercises
• Realistic collision avoidance scenarios

Case Studies

Students will examine real-world scenarios, including:

• Iridium-Cosmos collision and its aftermath
• International Space Station collision avoidance operations
• Chinese ASAT test and debris propagation
• Close approaches between operational satellites
• Space weather impacts on satellite constellations

Industry Applications

The knowledge gained is directly applicable to:

• Satellite operators and mission controllers
• Space traffic management organizations
• National security space entities
• Space insurance and risk assessment
• Space policy and regulatory bodies
• Space sustainability initiatives

SSA is becoming increasingly important for all space operators, and professionals with expertise in this area are in high demand across the commercial, civil, and national security space sectors.