TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
Sep 16, 2023
Fireball over Iceland
On September 12, from a location just south of the Arctic Circle, stones of Iceland's modern Arctic Henge point skyward in this startling scene. Entertaining an intrepid group of aurora hunters during a geomagnetic storm, alluring northern lights dance across the darkened sky when a stunning fireball meteor explodes. Awestruck, the camera-equipped skygazers captured video and still images of the boreal bolide, at its peak about as bright as a full moon. Though quickly fading from view, the fireball left a lingering visible trail or persistent train. The wraith-like trail was seen for minutes wafting in the upper atmosphere at altitudes of 60 to 90 kilometers along with the auroral glow.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html?
The World Celebrates Batman Day 2023
(September 6, 2023 – Burbank, CA) – On September 16, fans around the world will gather for Batman Day, celebrating their love of DC’s hallmark Super Hero, one of the most enduring characters in popular culture. To commemorate this annual tradition, DC and Warner Bros. Discovery are preparing an incredible selection of content and activities to make Batman Day 2023 an incredible experience worldwide!
https://www.dc.com/blog/2023/09/06/the-world-celebrates-batman-day-2023
DoD submits congressionally mandated space policy report
Sep 14, 2023
The Defense Department on Sept. 14 submitted to Congress a report explaining how it intends to keep satellites in orbit safe from aggression — and ensure that services like GPS navigation and space-based communications are always available.
The unclassified report, “Space Policy Review and Strategy on Protection of Satellites,” was mandated by law and is an attempt to explain how DoD is dealing with threats facing U.S. satellites, such as Russian jammers and Chinese lasers that can blind satellites.
The report responds to congressional requirements from the 2022 and 2023 National Defense Authorization Acts. One directs DoD and the intelligence community to review the space policy of the Department of Defense. The other requires DoD to “make publicly available a strategy containing the actions that will be taken to defend and protect on-orbit satellites of the Department of Defense and the intelligence community from the capabilities of adversaries to target, degrade, or destroy satellites.”
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy John Plumb said the document “helps us communicate in policy-speak a few key messages” such as the role of space in national security and the idea that space is a domain of war, like sea, air and land.
Although Congress mandated an unclassified report, DoD submitted a separate classified annex because many of the significant details related to the defense of space are secret.
During a call with reporters to discuss the release of the strategy, Plumb said the department “is continuing to push on multiple fronts to update our classification policies and guidance, to be able to share information at the appropriate levels.” Reducing classification from ‘top secret’ to ‘secret,’ for example, “can have great value,” he said.
The report identifies DoD’s key priorities with regard to space systems.
One is ensuring that the joint force has satellite-based services needed for military operations. Plumb said DoD is building more resilient satellite networks “so we can take a punch.”
“We’ve come a long way in how we’re approaching resilience,” he said. “It’s baked into all of our conversations. And it’s not just satellites. It’s also the ground architecture,” he said. “It’s a never-ending challenge because the adversary adapts.”
“Being able to neutralize or minimize the impact of a threat has to be part of our approach to ensure space services to the force,” Plumb said.
Another priority is space domain awareness, which means knowledge of the space environment. “It’s critical to be able to detect and react to threats … and be able to dynamically attribute and determine intent,” he said.
The document also recognizes DoD’s responsibility to protect military forces from acts of aggression enabled by space technologies. An example of that is the way China built its space architecture to “enhance its combat power across all domains,” Plumb said.
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Taking a page from the U.S. military playbook, China uses satellites to target its missiles more precisely and keep track of adversaries’ moves.
“So we will protect and defend our men and women from the space-enabled threats,” Plumb said. “In conflict, this may necessitate ensuring that our adversaries are unable to rely on their space based services to find and strike our forces.”
One of the reasons Congress requested this report is to help explain to constituents the role of various military organizations involved in space — including the U.S. Space Force, U.S. Space Command and several interagency groups — and why funding for space programs has grown significantly. “The FY 2024 budget prioritizes research, development, test and evaluation to ensure DoD can sharpen the edge of national security space through future years and meet emerging threats while simultaneously continuing to invest in near-term readiness,” the report says.
DoD in this report is also seeking to send a message to Congress and the public that it is not trying to stir up conflict in space.
Although the rhetoric has escalated, war in space is not inevitable, Plumb said. “We have the responsibility to ensure we are moving forward in a way that focuses on deterring conflict and reinforcing the safety, security, stability and long term sustainability of the space domain.”
“Every actor in space including the Department of Defense has to adjust to operate in a space domain with a large and increasing number of other actors, just as we have done for centuries on land,” he said.
DoD views China as a “pacing challenge,” Plumb said. “But we are not seeking a conflict with China. The U.S. remains committed to responsible behaviors in space.”
Defense of commercial systems
The strategy submitted to Congress does not address DoD’s role in protecting private-sector satellites used in support of military activities.
“The congressional language did not specify that. And so that’s not included,” Plumb said. Because of DoD’s reliance on commercial satellite services, the issue of how these satellites would be defended “is sort of underlying,” he said.
He said DoD advocates for greater sharing of “threat information with industry partners so that they can react,” similarly to the way the government shares cyber threat information with the private sector.
“That gets back to this issue of classification and making sure that we share information at the speed of relevance with our industry partners so they can attend to their own systems,” Plumb said.
Following the release of DoD’s report, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, said the department “has started what needs to be a robust discussion of what we must do to protect the joint force from Russian and Chinese space weapons. We must continue to move the ball forward as we look to achieve a comprehensive military advantage in space.”
“I also look forward to hearing more from DoD on how it is working to remove barriers to collaboration, like classification, with some of our closest allies and partners,” said Rogers. “This is part of the broader problem with overclassification of space systems that has persisted for decades.”
https://spacenews.com/dod-submits-congressionally-mandated-space-policy-report/
https://media.defense.gov/2023/Sep/14/2003301146/-1/-1/0/COMPREHENSIVE-REPORT-FOR-RELEASE.PDF
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China’s military sets up new base for space domain awareness
Sep 14, 2023
The People’s Liberation Army has established new facilities to improve its space domain awareness capabilities, according to a report.
The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Strategic Support Force’s (SSF) new Base 37 is charged with boosting missile early warning capabilities and identifying, tracking and analyzing foreign space objects, according to the report published by the China Aerospace Studies Institute Sept. 11.
China created the PLASSF in 2015 as the 5th branch of the PLA and charged it with integrating and overseeing areas such as space, cyber, and electronic warfare. While still not fully understood, its overarching goal is assessed to be obtaining information dominance and providing strategic support to the PLA.
Base 37 will improve the accuracy of the country’s domestic space object catalog and likely has similarities to the U.S. Space Force’s Delta 2 and Delta 4 space domain awareness units.
“The new base will improve the PLA’s ability to provide early warning of incoming ballistic missiles to joint forces, and track and identify space objects’ location, maneuvers, and operating environment,” according to the report.
Base 37 combines new and existing facilities and likely has tracking stations and other installations in the provinces of Shaanxi, Shandong, Xinjiang, Yunnan, Hangzhou, Qinghai, and Hubei. Beijing and Chongqing municipalities also host facilities.
It may also be integrating data from space-based missile early warning satellites. A number of China’s classified Tongxin Jishu Shiyan (TJS) satellites in geostationary orbit are thought to be for early warning purposes.
The report’s initial analysis does not reveal Base 37 to have a role in operating on-orbit systems, such as satellites reported to be fleeing, imaging and approaching U.S. satellites. It does not operate China’s robotic arm-equipped movable satellites like Shijian-21, which towed a defunct satellite to a GEO graveyard orbit, and Shijian-17. The report however confirms it is active in integrating and analyzing related data.
Based on a review of the base’s technical reports and patents, the report suggests that the first priorities for Base 37 have been to increase the accuracy of China’s space object catalog, establish an internal collision early warning system, and improve identification and tracking of key perceived threats.
China’s space activities have expanded greatly in recent years, in turn demanding greater space domain awareness capabilities. The country conducted 14 orbital launch attempts in 2013, rising to 55 times in 2021, 64 times in 2022, and could reach 80 launches across 2023. During this time China has constructed a modular crewed space station and plans to build a low Earth orbit megaconstellation.
The report also notes that Chinese papers discuss perceived threats. These include highly-maneuverable Starlink satellites, very low orbit space objects, and geosynchronous Earth orbit debris.
The establishment of Base 37 has implications for the U.S. Opportunities include the possibility of greater cooperation in the realm of space domain awareness and more direct contact with regards to conjunction warnings. Notable challenges are possible greater Chinese distrust of U.S. on-orbit operations, such as activities in the GEO belt.
The report also notes that China does not yet have on-orbit space situational awareness systems beyond small, experimental systems. This this will likely change in the coming years however.
https://spacenews.com/chinas-military-sets-up-new-base-for-space-domain-awareness/
https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/Portals/10/CASI/documents/Research/PLASSF/2023-09-11%20The%20PLA's%20New%20Base%20for%20SSA.pdf
SSC’s GPS Certifications Branch Keeps GPS Secured, Robust, and Accurate
Sep 15, 2023
With so many users worldwide – both civilian and military - depending on the accurate positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) information provided by the Global Positioning System (GPS), it’s not surprising that Space Systems Command has a specialized branch responsible for certifying its accuracy.
The GPS Certification Branch is a specialized team within SSC that is responsible for certifying the hardware, software, and firmware used in GPS systems.
“Since the early seventies, GPS has been available to the world as a free-for-use service,” said William Chang, team 3, lead of SSC’s Functional Security Engineering Team (FSET), and Information Assurance Working Group (IAWG) member. “Over that time, the signals have improved in accuracy to the point where time can be configured to within a millionth of a second, velocity within a fraction of a mile, and location to within 30 centimeters (12 inches.)”
The certification process conducted by SSC’s GPS Certification Branch involves the evaluation of design and testing for various components of GPS systems. This includes user equipment - the devices used by individuals or organizations to receive GPS signals and determine their precise location.
The GPS Certification Branch works closely with GPS manufacturers, U.S. Department of Defense agencies, and other stakeholders to establish and maintain certification standards. Collaboration with industry experts, research institutions, and other certification bodies is also a key aspect of the branch's work to stay informed about technological advancements and ensure the certification process remains up to date with the latest developments.
“Driven by new and innovative uses for the GPS signal and revolutions from both the hardware and software industries, we need to not only keep up with the latest applications and technologies but also look into trends of future evolution to assure everything that works today can also be transitioned to future smoothly,” said Peter Youssef, SSC’s FSET team 1 lead and Anti-Tamper Working Group (ATWG) member.
The certification process also includes space segments, which are the satellites that transmit the GPS signals, monitoring stations, which track and monitor the performance of the GPS satellites, and the terrestrial modules, which provide end user secured and accurate signals.
“Making sure the space segments are working properly can be tricky,” said Kevin Kirkham, SSC FSET team 2 lead, and Cryptography Working Group (CWG) member. “As yet, on-orbit servicing isn’t possible. Fortunately, we have a complete constellation of 31 operational GPS satellites as of today, enough to provide accurate information, with a few we can sub in if one satellite malfunctions or unexpectedly reaches the end of its useful life.”
New GPS satellites are launched periodically – the latest, GPS III, Space Vehicle 6 was launched in January of 2023 – as older satellites reach the end of their useful life. And with each new iteration, new technology is added to make the system more robust, accurate, and resilient, Kirkham said.
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Certification of hardware, software, and firmware is crucial to ensure that GPS systems meet the stringent standards set by the DoD. This certification ensures that the GPS systems used by the military and other DoD agencies are reliable, accurate, and secure. It also ensures that these systems are interoperable and compatible with other military equipment and communication networks.
Four global systems are currently operational: the United States' GPS, Russia's Global Navigation Satellite System (GLONASS), China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, and the European Union's Galileo. Among these systems, GPS is the most accurate navigation system in the world and remains the Gold Standard for global space-based positioning, navigation and timing, said Laurie Chin, branch outreach coordinator.
The assessment process conducted by the GPS Certification Branch involves thorough testing and analysis of the design, performance, and security of the GPS components. This includes assessing the hardware's ability to receive and process GPS signals accurately, the software's ability to interpret and utilize the GPS data effectively, and the firmware's ability to maintain system integrity and security.
GPS security assurance is a daunting effort to support critical mission elements at the infrastructure level of the DoD’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) framework. The space domain is no longer a benign environment, and adversaries can and will use space as a low-cost way to gain an asymmetric advantage during confrontation. The mission of the branch is to assure the GPS security functions from the developers do protect critical information and defend any types of physical or virtual threats so the U.S. and its allies can use the PTN information the way they need to, both militarily and commercially, to meet national interests.
By certifying the hardware, software, and firmware used in GPS systems, the GPS Certification Branch plays a vital role in ensuring the functionality, reliability, and security of GPS technology within the DoD. This certification enables the DoD to effectively utilize GPS systems for a wide range of military operations, including navigation, reconnaissance, targeting, and logistics.
https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article-Display/Article/3527705/sscs-gps-certifications-branch-keeps-gps-secured-robust-and-accurate
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/embed/896307
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Technology to boost high-speed satellite connectivity
Sep 15, 2023
British electronics specialist Filtronic is developing advanced technology that will enable next-generation satellite constellations to deliver high-speed broadband internet coverage.
Backed by ESA and the UK Space Agency, the company is working on spacefaring hardware that aims to provide fast, high-capacity links between low Earth orbiting communications satellites and receiving ground stations.
The contract forms part of ESA’s efforts to advance the 5G digital transformation of society and industry.
Low Earth orbit constellations are a crucial element of next-generation 5G and 6G converged networks, augmenting communications infrastructure on the ground and ensuring the provision of continuous, instant and ubiquitous connectivity.
Telecommunications satellites provide connectivity by receiving and sending data via radio waves, with different parts of the radio spectrum having contrasting capabilities in terms of speed, data volumes, and bandwidth.
Filtronic’s technology operates over extremely high frequency bands – or millimetre waves – that deliver wide bandwidths, high data rates, and low latencies over localised areas.
As the 5G digital transformation continues, the adoption of this frequency range is gaining significant momentum, thanks to its capability to enable key applications, including autonomous transport, the internet of things, and industrial automation.
Filtronic has demonstrated an impressive commercial track record for the development of millimetre wave products for terrestrial communications.
By bringing the firm’s expertise to the table, the contract is expected to create several commercial opportunities in the space industry, including more efficient production and the development of spin-off technologies.
The contract is part of ESA’s Space for 5G and 6G Programme, and falls under ESA’s programme of Advanced Research in Telecommunications Systems (ARTES), which promotes commercial innovation to boost European and Canadian leadership in the fiercely competitive global satcom marketplace.
Paul Bate, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said: “As we rely increasingly on satellite communications across all aspects of our daily lives, innovations that improve and expand the scope of these services have become an economic engine for the global space sector.
“Filtronic’s products, which aim to tackle major challenges, such as bandwidth requirements for emerging telecoms, provide a brilliant example of how the UK is excelling in this area; exploiting opportunities to enhance services that make our lives better and contribute to the growth of our thriving satellite communications and wider space sector.”
Antonio Franchi, Head of ESA’s 5G/6G Programme, said: “ESA is proud to partner with Filtronic on a project that will apply the company’s excellent commercial capabilities to advance the digital transformation of society and industry, achieved through the development of hybrid satellite 5G networks.”
Tudor Williams, Director of Technology at Filtronic, said: “Filtronic has already developed a range of technologies and products for millimetre wave bands. This contract allows us to gear our core technology towards the low Earth orbit market.
“Satellite operators are increasingly turning to frequencies that deliver ultra-high bandwidth data links and Filtronic is uniquely positioned to adapt existing products, manufactured in commercial volumes, for the specific requirements of space.”
Fabrizio De Paolis, 5G/6G Implementation Manager at ESA, said: “Filtronic is in a great position to deliver this contract. Its in-house design and manufacturing capability is one-of-a-kind in the UK and, through the ARTES programme, ESA is delighted to partner with Filtronic to establish a leading position in this exciting and growing sector.”
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Connectivity_and_Secure_Communications/Technology_to_boost_high-speed_satellite_connectivity