SATCOM for Net-Centric Warfare

MilsatMagazineJanuary 2020 issue

This issue...

Crucial Comms for Emergency Efforts

NextGen Milsatcom Technology

COTS Processing Evolution

Protecting Space Assets

Dispatches

United States Space Force Boeing GomSpace GAO Sierra Nevada Corporation Orbit Communications Government Envisatcom Northrop GrummaN Space & Missile Systems Center Israel Aerospace Industries

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Silvano Payne, Publisher + Executive Writer Dispatches Simon Payne, Chief Technical Officer Hartley G. Lesser, Editorial Director . Space Force...... 4 Pattie Lesser, Executive Editor Donald McGee, Production Manager GAO...... 9 Andy Bernard, Sales Director Boeing...... 10 Teresa Sanderson, Operations Director Sean Payne, Business Development Director Sierra Nevada Corporation...... 12 Dan Makinster, Technical Advisor Wendy Lewis, Contributing Editor Orbit Communications...... 14 Paul Sims, Contributing Editor GomSpace...... 14

Senior Columnists Envistacom...... 15

Richard Dutchik, Dutchik Communications Northrop Grumman...... 16 Chris Forrester, Broadgate Publications Karl Fuchs, iDirect Government Services USAF Space & Missile Systems Center...... 18 Bob Gough, Goonhilly Earth Station Rebecca M. Cowen-Hirsch, Inmarsat Israel Aerospace Industries...... 19 Ken Peterman, Viasat Giles Peeters, Track24 Defence Ryan Schradin, GSR Crucial Comms Support for Hurricane Dorian’s Emergency Efforts...... 20 Koen Willems, Newtec by Madison Musgraves, Benjamin Kennedy and Lauren Vatier This issue’s authors The Government Satellite Report: NextGen MILSATCOM Technology...... 24 Scott Anderson by Ryan Schradin

Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch COTS Processing Evolution...... 28 by Scott Anderson Benjamin Kennedy

Protecting Space Assets...... 30 Madison Musgraves by Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch

Ryan Schradin

Lauren Vatier Advertiser Index

2020 SmallSat Symposium...... 17 SatMagazine is published 11 times a year by Satnews Publishers, 800 Siesta Way, Advantech Wireless...... 7 Sonoma, CA, 95476 — USA. Phone: (707) 939-9306 / Fax: (707) 939-9235 AvL Technologies...... 2 © 2020 Satnews Publishers Comtech Xicom Technologies...... Cover We reserve the right to edit all submitted materials to meet publication content guidelines, as well as CPI Satcom Products...... 9 for grammar and spelling errors, or to move articles to an alternative issue to accommodate publication EM Solutions...... 15 space requirements, or remove content due to space restrictions or unacceptable content. Submission of Spacebridge...... 5 articles does not constitute acceptance of said material by Satnews Publishers. Edited materials may, or may Space Foundation—Space Symposium...... 32 not, be returned to author and/or company for review prior to publication. The views expressed in Satnews Terrasat...... 11 Publishers’ various publications do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of Satnews Publishers. W.B. Walton Enterprises, Inc...... 13 All rights reserved. All included imagery is courtesy of, and copyright to, the respective companies and/or named individuals.

2 MilsatMagazine — December 2019

Dispatches U.S. Space Force established

The President of the This new service will help ensure we “Space is U.S. national interests and security United States has signed are postured to deter aggression, critical to in space.” the 2020 National Defense defend our national interests and our nation’s Authorization Act and, outpace potential adversaries.” economic “With the establishment of the with that signing, directed interests, Space Force we elevate the the establishment of the U.S. The U.S. military and the commercial national organize, train and equip function Space Force as the sector rely heavily on space-enabled security, consistent with the criticality of sixth branch of the U.S. capabilities, and the Defense and way of the space domain,” said General armed forces. Department must protect those life,” said Jay Raymond, Chief of Space assets and maintain U.S. superiority Chairman Chairman of the Operations and Commander, U.S. “We are at in the space domain, the Deputy of the Joint Joint Chiefs of Space Command. “The U.S. Space the dawn of a Assistant Secretary of Defense for Chiefs of Staff, General Force will deliver the capabilities new era for our Space Policy, Stephen L. Kitay said Staff, General Mark A. Milley U.S. Space Command needs to Nation’s Armed during an AFCEA luncheon last year. Mark A. control and exploit space for Forces. The Milley. “In military operations, space national advantage.” establishment He explained that the Department is not just a place from which we of the U.S. of Defense (DoD) is no longer support combat operations in other Much of the new U.S. Space Force Space Force is viewing space as a support function, domains, but a warfighting domain will be built from existing structure an historic event but as a warfighting domain -— a in and of itself. Our adversaries are with the armed services and DoD. Secretary of and a strategic domain of potential crisis and building and deploying capabilities Some of the space assets that Defense imperative for conflict. The Space Force unifies to threaten us, so we can no longer currently reside in each of the Mark T. Esper our Nation. space-related activities within DoD. take space for granted. The U.S. armed services are not going to be Space has become so important Space Force is the necessary and incorporated into the Space Force, to our way of life, our economy, Kitay added that the nation needs essential step our Nation will take such as the National Reconnaissance and our national security that we to maintain space superiority and to defend our national interests in Office. Additionally, U.S. Space must be prepared as a Nation to protect freedom of operations in space today and into the future.” Command that was activated in protect it from hostile actions,” said that domain. ‘’Future operations August of 2019 will remain as a Secretary of Defense, Mark T. Esper. will likely start or extend into “The launch of the U.S. Space Force combatant command with a focus He continued, “Our Military Services space and we have to be ready for propels the nation into a new era,” on warfighting aspects. have created the world’s best space that eventuality.’’ said Secretary of the Air Force, capabilities. Now is the time for the Barbara M. Barrett. “An agile, lean U.S. Space Force to lead our Nation and technologically-advanced force in preparing for emerging threats of talented professionals will now in an evolving space environment. singularly focus on protecting our

4 MilsatMagazine — January 2020

effectively stand up the U.S. on speed, agility, and Space Force, subject to law. partnerships within DoD, The Department has the within the U.S. Government, opportunity to build a new with allies and international Armed Force guided by partners, and with the joint principles but with a private sector. mission and culture unique Finally, the space to space operations. acquisition enterprise should First, the U.S. Space Force be rationalized as the U.S. will cultivate space domain- Space Force is established. specific expertise and serve I expect the full support as the DoD proponent of and of all DoD Components in advocate for space power. implementing this historic The U.S. Space Force will reorganization of DoD develop and integrate into space forces. the Joint Force the space The Secretary of the President Donald Trump signs S.1790, the National Defense doctrine, capabilities, and Air Force shall provide Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 as senior leaders look on, personnel our Nation needs me with regular progress Friday, December 20, 2019 At Joint Base Andrews. The act authorizes to outpace future threats. reports on the stand-up a budget that supports the U.S. Armed Forces and postures the Air Second, the U.S. Space of the U.S. Space Force Force to meet the requirements of the National Defense Strategy. Force must be effective and the Deputy Secretary (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Spencer Slocum) and efficient. of Defense will lead It will remain mission- regular Space Governance The U.S. Secretary of Defense the support of all DoD focused by leveraging Committee meetings. released a memorandum on Components. infrastructure of the U.S. Air The success of the U.S. December 20, 2019, that outlined The long-term vision of Force, except in performing Space Force is vital to our the establishment of the U.S. DoD remains to consolidate those functions that are Nation’s ability to compete, Space Force. the space forces of all unique to space or central deter, and win. Armed Forces into the U.S. to the independence of the The Fiscal Year 2020 Space Force, as appropriate new Armed Force. Third, National Defense and authorized. the U.S. Space Force will Authorization Act The Secretary of the not be limited to existing establishes the will build upon organizational models. Space Force as a new Armed planning efforts to date It will be built from the Force within the Department in order to rapidly and ground up with a focus of the Air Force. The creation of the U.S. Space Force is the most significant reorganization of the Department of Defense (DoD) since the Goldwater- Nichols DoD Reorganization Act of 1986, and the first new Armed Force since the United States Air Force was authorized by the National Security Act of 1947. Establishing the U.S. Space Force will elevate the role of space in our national defense and transform how DoD organizes, trains, and equips in order to prepare for new security challenges in an era of great power competition. Standing up the U.S. Space Force as a new Armed Force will require commitment, time, and focus across the entire DoD. Under my guidance, President Donald Trump speaks during an event at Joint Base Andrews, Md., Dec. 20, 2019. Trump visited direction, and oversight, the Andrews to thank service members before signing the National Defense Authorization Act of 2020, which Secretary of the Air Force support the Air Force’s advanced capabilities to gain and maintain air superiority and the Airmen that are will lead implementation essential to our nation’s success. U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Spencer Slocum. of this legislation with

6 MilsatMagazine — January 2020

Secretary of the Air Force, Barbara Barret (l), General Jay Raymond, Chief of Space Operations and Commander, U.S. Space Command (c), Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Space Policy, Stephen L. Kitay (r).

Secretary of the Air Force, Barbara General Raymond committed to taking care remains solely focused on Barret and General “Jay” Raymond commented, “With the of our space professionals the warfighting aspects conducted a briefing in December establishment of the and their families and will of space and is a major regarding the U.S. Space Force. United States Space Force, ensure the uninterrupted command within the The highlights follow... we are elevating space execution of ongoing U.S. Air Force, reporting commensurate with its critical space missions. directly to the Secretary of Secretary Barret opened the importance to our national “Together, the Space the Air Force. session by saying, “The U.S. security and the security of Force and the Air Force will Space Force will protect our allies and our partners. control the high ground • The newly enacted law America’s national interests “In August of 2019, we and — and deliver great provides planning for by its singular focus on established the United advantage for our nation. as many as 18 months space. The United States States Space Command — a The establishment of the to complete the build. has the best space acumen warfighting command whose Space Force truly launches In 2022, the budget for in the world. Still, now is the mission is to conduct space us into a new era.” Space Force should be time to establish a team, operations, to deter conflict completed. a separate service totally from beginning or extending The press were invited to ask focused on organizing, into space, to defend our questions of both the Secretary and • General Raymond said that training and equipping vital interests in space, to the General, the highlights of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy Space Forces. deliver space capabilities which were: and the National Guard “We are moving forward to our joint and coalition and service reserves will with alacrity and in partners and to develop • The U.S. Space Force will all be partners in the new accordance with presidential space warfighters. be comprised of about service, with the U.S. Air direction, congressional “We now elevate the 16,000 Air Force active Force starting this work legislation and DOD United States Space Force duty and civilian personnel during year one. guidance. The Air Force to a separate service. Let and they will immediately Space Command airmen there be no mistake, the become the Space Force. • The Secretary of Defense, are today assigned to the United States is the best in Kitay, noted that the long U.S. Space Force. Personnel the world in space today and • A phased construction and term vision of the DoD is to assigned to the initial Space today, we’re even better. development of this force consolidate the number of Force headquarters located Consistent with our National revolves around a 30 to space missions across the within the Pentagon will Defense Strategy, the United 120 day program that will services directly into the now take over the Space States Space Force will bring additional personnel Space Force. Force planning.” ensure we compete, deter into the service. and win from a position of www.spaceforce.mil Directing this effort with the strength, securing our way of • The difference between secretary is General “Jay” Raymond, life and our national security. U.S. Space Command and commander of U.S. Space “I am honored to serve U.S. Space Force is that the Command. General Raymond is alongside our space former is the warfighting a career space officer and Barrett professionals who are component and the said that he is the perfect person to the source of our great latter organizes, trains guide this lean, agile, vital strength. As we stand and equips the forces. Space Force. up this new service, I am U.S. Space Command

8 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 Dispatches GAO’s analysis of DoD’s SATCOM processes

The Department of Defense (DoD) making and have the potential to has conducted a comprehensive improve the department’s satellite analysis of alternatives (AOA) communications acquisitions. process for wideband satellite communications, through an However, DOD stakeholders said assessment of the AOA against there is no formal plan to guide and relevant GAO best practices. coordinate implementation of the AOA recommendations. Without A comprehensive analysis of such a plan, DOD is at increased alternatives process indicates risk of not having the information it that the analysis team thoroughly needs to make timely, knowledge- addressed a wide range of possible based decisions on future systems satellite system alternatives. to provide critical communications for military operations. DoD used multiple methods to obtain stakeholder input, in DoD officials estimate spending accordance with its Wideband AOA an average of $4 billion each year study plan. For example, the study to acquire and sustain wideband team incorporated input from across satellite communications that the military services and operational provide fast and reliable voice, users, among others. Moreover, video, and data transmissions the U.S. Air Force and Defense critical to military operations. DoD Information Systems Agency (DISA) is considering how to meet its conducted interrelated studies to future wideband needs across many provide additional information to different operating environments the Wideband study team. and scenarios. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year DoD’s analysis concluded that 2016 required DoD to conduct a integrating military and commercial Wideband Communications Services systems into a hybrid architecture AOA to identify ways to replace would be more cost effective and current systems as the satellites capable than either acquisition reach the end of their service lives. approach alone. However, DoD also found that it needs more The National Defense Authorization information to select its next satellite Act for Fiscal Year 2017 contained a communications architecture provision for GAO to assess DoD’s and made recommendations for analysis. This report addresses further study. Examples of these (1) whether the Wideband AOA recommendations include: was comprehensive, (2) how DoD solicited input from stakeholders, Develop an enterprise satellite and (3) the conclusions DoD reached communications terminal strategy through the Wideband AOA. – DoD found the magnitude of replacing user terminals to work with GAO reviewed the Wideband AOA new systems was challenging and with DOD policies, documentation, that more information on emerging and analyses; interviewed DOD technology and possible changes to officials and commercial stakeholders; terminal acquisition approaches would and assessed the AOA against best help DoD address this challenge. practices for a comprehensive AOA process. Invest in commercial technologies – DoD found that it lacked detailed GAO is recommending that technical information on commercial DoD develop a plan to guide systems’ cyber protections and implementation of the Wideband that additional information on AOA recommendations. DoD such protections would help DOD provided technical comments on determine the extent to which they a draft of this report, which GAO would meet DoD’s needs. incorporated as appropriate.

Such recommendations align with For more information, contact GAO’s acquisition best practices Cristina T. Chaplain at chaplainc@ for knowledge-based decision- gao.gov.

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 9 Dispatches Boeing-built WGS-11 Targets 2024 for delivery to USAF

Artistic rendition of WGS satellites. Image is courtesy of Boeing.

Boeing [NYSE: BA] recently These innovations will enable the The company looks forward to the capacity, coverage, connectivity reported that the company spacecraft to support more users in delivering this critically important and control required by the most has developed a new variant theater and allow dedicated beams asset to the U.S. Air Force in 2024. demanding operational scenarios. of its 702 satellite for the U.S. to follow aircraft in flight. Air Force’s Wideband Global The mission of the Wideband The U.S. Air Force MILSATCOM SATCOM (WGS) constellation, WGS provides dedicated Global SATCOM (WGS) system is to Systems Directorate at Los Angeles one that offers greater bandwidth high capacity broadband provide broadband communications Air Force Base (AFB) is the efficiency and signal power than communications connectivity to connectivity for U.S. and allied WGS customer. previous satellites in the fleet. U.S. and allied forces around the warfighters around the world. world and Boeing has been the lead WGS is designed for coverage, The new WGS-11 will be delivered contractor on the program since it WGS is the highest-capacity military capacity and connectivity,with each on a recently negotiated contract began in 2001. communications system in the U.S. satellite designed for high-data- award from the U.S. Air Force. Troy Dawson, Boeing Vice Department of Defense arsenal, rate communications providing President, Government Satellite providing a quantum leap in full-motion video (FMV) and sensor Advances in Boeing digital satellite Systems, said the WGS-11 communications capability for the data gathered from remote piloted technology mean WGS-11 will incorporates the latest advances U.S. military. aircraft; video teleconferencing deliver hundreds of coverage beams in Boeing commercial satellite among military leaders around the and provide a more flexible and technology combined with Boeing’s investments in phased world; and critical communications efficient use of bandwidth. a resilient and robust design array antennas and digital signal for humanitarian efforts and specifically for military use in processing, combined with deployed forces. contested environments. innovations in the commercial satellite market, have resulted in a flexible WGS system that delivers

10 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 Full-Earth coverage in X-band is The MAJE program is a ground- also provided. Use of phased array based anti-jam upgrade that will use technology allows the eight X-band the existing capabilities of the WGS beams to be steered and shaped satellites to geolocate from where to apply gain and power exactly interference is coming and shape where it’s needed. beams to mitigate the interference.

Communications between users The PTES program, a new global are enhanced using the digital military satellite communications channelizer, which allows for ground system, will use the wide very efficient use of a satellite’s bandwidth available per beam bandwidth. It divides the uplink on WGS satellites to transmit the bandwidth into nearly 1,900 Protected Tactical Waveform, one independently routable sub- of the U.S. Department of Defense’s channels, providing the connection secure, anti-jam waveforms. from any uplink coverage area to Through frequency reuse and digital The dual-band system allows tens any downlink coverage area. PTES will soon also manage channelization, each WGS payload of thousands of users with military Protected Tactical Waveform provides bandwidth-efficient wideband terminals to operate WGS satellites have features to transmissions over commercial communications to respond to seamlessly, anytime, anywhere. operate in contested environments communication satellites evolving mission demands. WGS is the backbone of U.S. and updates will include anti- and terminals. Department of Defense (DoD) jamming capabilities through Operating at X-and Ka-band, satellite communications, providing two programs currently under the system enable networks more than 75 percent of tactical development at Boeing in for tactical Command, Control, wideband communications. partnership with the U.S. Air Communications, Computers, Force: the Mitigation and Anti-Jam Intelligence, Surveillance, and The WGS design includes 19 Enhancement (MAJE) program and Reconnaissance (C4ISR). independent coverage areas. the Protected Tactical Enterprise Ten Ka- and 8 X-band beams can be Service (PTES) program. positioned anywhere in the field of view of each satellite.

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 11 Dispatches Sierra Nevada Corp. and Air Force Research Lab one step closer to rocket’s reality

Testing the Vortex engine. Photo is courtesy of Sierra Nevada Corporation.

Sierra Nevada Corporation SNC’s owner and CEO, Fatih The overall size of the engine is also Other launch and boost applications (SNC) reports they are one step Ozmen, stated that the company drastically smaller in comparison with will also be tested. closer to testing the VR35K-A, is committed to using technology traditional combustion upper stage a commercialized version of the that is cutting-edge, but also cost- engines, making it as much as 50 Dr. Shawn Phillips, Chief of the VORTEX engine system, a project effective, and the VR35K-A is a great percent less expensive to operate. Rocket Propulsion Division at AFRL, that is under development in a example of both. noted that AFRL is always looking combined effort with the Air Force Tom Crabb, Vice President of SNC’s for innovative solutions and SNC’s Research Laboratory (AFRL). Ozmen added that this solution Propulsion and Environmental VORTEX technology in the VR35K-A shows how small business business unit, added that AFRL rocket engine adds a new high- With its patented VORTEX™ engine technologies can be accelerated has a history of developing and performance and low-cost option to technology, SNC is one step closer into valuable applications for discovering new technology that the upper stage engine capabilities to testing a brand new version of its commercial and military use. can be applied in air and space space for launch providers. low-cost, high-performance upper and they are pleased to continue stage rocket engine. SNC partners with several other their commercialization effort with small businesses for components them. SNC’s VORTEX technology The VR35K-A, developed in and key subsystems of the engines. is truly a unique new value to future conjunction with the Air Force launches and they are both excited Research Laboratory (AFRL), is SNC is expanding on its legacy and motivated to see this program a commercialized version of the success with the VORTEX move forward. VORTEX engine system. technology, using it as the baseline for the next-generation liquid Testing will continue at SNC’s The team will provide a fully oxygen and liquid hydrogen upper upgraded rocket engine test integrated engine, leveraging stage class engine. facilities near Madison, Wisconsin. technologies initially developed under Small Business Innovation State-of-the-art technology and a Several important commercial, Research (SBIR) programs. VORTEX flow field to cool the inner civilian and military applications are walls allows the new engine to be planned, including small engines simpler, smaller and lower cost. used in orbiting spacecraft and vehicles and larger upper stage engines for final orbit delivery.

12 MilsatMagazine — January 2020

Dispatches Orbit Communications multi-role aviation terminal ordered by Inmarsat Government

The Multi-Purpose Terminal (MPT) 46WGX terminal. Image is courtesy of Orbit Communications.

Orbit Communication Systems Ltd. (TASE: ORBI) has announced an initial order from Inmarsat Government for Orbit’s Multi- Purpose Terminal (MPT) 46WGX. Sample UAS preparing for takeoff. Image is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Orbit’s MPT 46WGX is a 46 cm. (18-inch) modular, multi-role Delivery of the satellite antenna Inmarsat has greatly accelerated He added that Inmarsat Government aviation terminal designed to be systems is expected in early and enhanced Orbit’s development looks forward to starting operations fully interoperable with military 2020 from Orbit’s U.S.-based efforts and products. with this terminal to expand Ka-band systems and optimized for production facilities. interoperable connectivity solutions use over Inmarsat’s Global Xpress Steve Gizinski, Chief Technical for highly mobile government constellation. Stav Gizunterman, Vice President Officer, Inmarsat Government, airborne users. of Sales and Marketing at Orbit, added that the company’s close The order comes on the heels said this volume production work with Orbit Communication of a co-development agreement order, by one of the largest global Systems has helped ensure rapid signed between Inmarsat and government satellite service development of the innovative Orbit Communication Systems, providers, is a strong endorsement new MPT 46WGX terminal. announced on March 20, 2019. of the company’s MPT concept and its capabilities. Partnering with

Dispatches GomSpace to deliver SDRs for geo-intelligence use

On GOMX-3, the SDR platform GomSpace has, over the years, is used for signal sensing with built a strong product portfolio and an L-band antenna for spectrum on-orbit track record with its SDR characterization. Significant modules and antenna modules calculation capacity for advanced helping customers to realize many signal processing and detection different applications. techniques is available in a very The GOMX-3 spacecraft in compact design. GomSpace CEO Niels Buus deployed configuration (image said that this is a significant win credit: GomSpace, NASA) The FPGA module can be available accelerating the company’s growth The GomSpace SDR platform is used for for other advanced processing in the North American market with a a high-speed S-band ground link and for geo-intelligence industry for the requirements such as image growing number of commercial and inter-satellite links using S- or K-band in delivery of a software defined processing, etc., using the high institutional customers depending a highly miniaturized radio system for radio (SDR) modules and antenna capacity of the system. on our products for radio payloads long distance communication. systems — the contract is worth and satellite platforms. 7.9 million SEK and will be fully Software is available for on-orbit GomSpace has signed a contract delivered in 2020. programming or applying scripting with an existing customer on the tools limiting size of program uploads. North American market in the

14 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 Dispatches Envistacom receives multi-task order from the U.S. Army

An announcement from the U.S. The company is pleased to have Army’s Product Manager Satellite been selected for such an important Communications (PdM SATCOM) program providing satellite stated that Envistacom has transmission capability within the been awarded a $47.8 million, Department of Defense (DoD) three-year award to support global network for almost 20 years. the Deployable Ku-Band Earth Terminal (DKET) program. According to the company, the DKET is the backbone of long-haul The task order was awarded under transmissions for the U.S. African the Deployable Adaptive Global Command (AFRICOM) and U.S. Responder Support (DAGRS) Central Command (CENTCOM), indefinite delivery, indefinite with more than 80 DKETs deployed quantity (IDIQ) contract that is worth to support multiple areas of up to $480 million over upgrade existing terminals, as well Nelson Santini, Senior Vice operation (AOs). five years. as spares, new terminals, installation, President of Sales at Envistacom relocations and necessary interface said Envistacom will help support DKET provides intra-country In exchange Envistacom will equipment and services. the Army’s PdM SATCOM achieve communications within and between provide installation, training, its modernization goals through the regional commands globally, and relocation, integration, and Additionally, the new deployable implementation of virtualization, and inter-theater communications with upgrades for new, legacy and SATCOM terminal antennas other new technologies. reach-back capabilities to other existing DKETs, DKET LT (“Lite” provided by Envistacom will be countries and continents. version) and mobile DKET (MKET). multi-band capable, operating in Ku, Ka and X-Band frequencies. PdM SATCOM is responsible for the Army’s tactical multi-channel satellite ground and commercial terminal programs and Envistacom will help

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 15 Dispatches Northrop Grumman’s customer plans for first flight of OmegA™

Northrop Grumman’s OmegA rocket will launch up to two satellites manufactured by Saturn Satellite Networks in the spring of 2021. Image credit: Northrop Grumman

Northrop Grumman Corporation Scott Lehr, Vice President and Charlie Precourt, Vice President, unmatched experience, stability (NYSE: NOC) announced that General Manager, Flight Systems, propulsion systems, Northrop and a strong customer focus to Saturn Satellite Networks (SSN) Northrop Grumman stated that the Grumman added that having every partnership. has selected the OmegA space OmegA rocket expands Northrop Saturn’s NationSat on board for this to launch up to two Grumman’s launch capabilities mission further demonstrates the Northrop Grumman’s history in satellites on the rocket’s inaugural beyond their small and medium versatility of OmegA to serve other space launch includes in 1990, the flight scheduled for spring, 2021. class rockets, which have successfully markets including commercial and company developed Pegasus™, launched nearly 80 missions. civil government. the world’s first privately developed OmegA will launch from Kennedy space launch system. Space Center’s Pad 39B and Scott noted that expanding the Precourt continued and stated that insert the SSN satellites into a company’s launch capabilities to the their customer’s mission comes Additionally, the company’s geosynchronous transfer orbit. intermediate/heavy class with OmegA first, whether OmegA is launching Minotaur launch vehicle has complements their national security a commercial satellite or a national achieved 100 percent success on Last October, the U.S. Air Force satellite portfolio and enables them to security payload. At the end of the its 18 space missions and nine awarded Northrop Grumman a $792 better support their customers. day, they deliver the customer’s suborbital missions. million Launch Services Agreement spacecraft where it needs to go. to complete detailed design and Jim Simpson, the CEO of Saturn, Northrop Grumman’s Antares™ verification of the OmegA launch said the company is excited to Precourt relayed that Northrop rocket has launched more than vehicle and launch sites. launch Saturn’s NationSat on Grumman designed OmegA to 70,000 pounds of food, equipment Northrop Grumman’s OmegA use the most reliable propulsion and supplies to the astronauts aboard Northrop Grumman’s OmegA rocket launch vehicle’s inaugural mission. available — solid propulsion for the International Space Station. will launch as many as two satellites OmegA’s performance, payload the boost stages and flight proven manufactured by Saturn Satellite accommodations, and rigorous RL10 engines for the upper stage Networks in the spring of 2021. certification program assures them — to ensure exceptional mission Image credit: Northrop Grumman it is a great fit for NationSats and assurance for their customers. He their customers. added that Northrop Grumman’s technical expertise is both broad and deep, and they bring

16 MilsatMagazine — January 2020

Dispatches Commercial technology leveraged by SMC to enable WGS-11+ to deliver 2x capabilities

Wideband Global SATCOM With SRR complete, the WGS-11+ Additionally, the system remains a Advances in Boeing digital satellite (WGS)-11+ is a Space and Missile team has initiated production viable government host platform technology mean WGS-11 will Systems (SMC) Center Pacesetter and prototyping of Pathfinder for rapid prototyping and additional deliver hundreds of coverage for the rapid application and hardware units to reduce risk enhancements with mission partners beams and provide a more flexible fielding of commercial technology. for the final production build on are being considered. and efficient use of bandwidth. its “Road to Preliminary Design Colonel John Dukes, Chief of the These innovations will enable the The SMC Production Corps and Review” campaign. Geosynchronous/Polar Division, spacecraft to support more users in Portfolio Architect’s Mission System SMC Production Corps, said theater and allow dedicated beams Integration team jointly championed WGS capability evolves significantly the resilient design will deliver to follow aircraft in flight. a successful first-ever, cross-corps with each generation of spacecraft. Combatant Commanders twice Systems Requirements Review (SRR) WGS-11+ adapts innovative the mission capability through Troy Dawson, Boeing VP, to help the Government and Boeing technologies to provide more contested environments—improving Government Satellite Systems, reach a mutual agreement on a coverage beams, more beam formed capacity and coverage to soldiers, said that WGS-11 incorporates system performance specification to bandwidth and more frequency re- sailors, airmen and marines. the latest advances in Boeing satisfy warfighter needs quickly. use than heritage systems. commercial satellite technology Dr. Mark Peterson, WGS Aerospace combined with a resilient and robust The WGS program office, WGS-11+ will be capable of forming Platform lead, noted that WGS-11+ design specifically for military use leveraging enterprise partnerships unique coverage areas anywhere enhances operational flexibility and in contested environments, with and a collaborative culture with within the field of regard—each performance to better serve the delivery of this critically important Army, Navy, and Boeing systems sized optimally as mission needs warfighter—the system will provide asset to the U.S. Air Force in 2024. engineers, worked closely demand. The satellite will have more coverage beams than the together to ensure the system’s much greater inherent resilience to entire existing WGS constellation. technical baseline will maximize threats than prior vehicles. value to the warfighter on an Major Brandon Castillo, WGS-11+ aggressive 5-year schedule. The ability to provide seamless Program Manager, added that SMC broadband interconnectivity for is excited to deliver The WGS team, embedded at the X-band and Ka-band users, and the warfighter. Boeing facility, has been able to apply features to operate in a contested lessons learned from extensive testing environment—provide the global Boeing developed a new variant performed by a similar commercial responsiveness for U.S. and Allied of its 702 satellite for the WGS- space program using the same digital Forces to support missions ranging 11 addition to the constellation, payload technologies. from warfighting to humanitarian one that offers greater bandwidth relief efforts. efficiency and signal power than previous satellites in the fleet.

Artistic rendition of WGS satellite. Image is courtesy of Boeing.

18 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 Dispatches Israel Aerospace Industries set to build satellite for Israel

Artistic rendition of the Dror-1 satellite. Image is courtesy of Israel Aerospace Industries.

Israel Aerospace Industries This will include a digital Levi added that this satellite’s time, and consequently, offers lower (IAI) will manufacture a highly communications payload and development will bring to fruition launch costs. advanced Dror-1 satellite for the “space smartphone” capabilities to many years of experience and study Israeli government and will help enable communication flexibility. that will be used in future Israeli The SHAVIT launcher system to ensure that Israel remains satellites. He added that, in recent includes a mobile launch pad which technologically independent. The project was initiated by the years, Israel Aerospace Industries provides a full testing capability. Israeli government that has been has invested considerable research Unique is that this configuration Dror-1 will be a national seeking to appropriately invest in a and development budgets and enables its launch from a customer that has long-term SATCOM development efforts to maintain communications selected launch site. a life expectancy of at least 15 years. plan that would also deliver the satellite capabilities in Israel additional benefits of preserving and the development of future The SHAVIT launcher has been According to the agreement Israeli knowledge and expertise communications satellites. operational for 30 years and is used signed between Israel Aerospace that has been accumulated over to launch the Israeli OFEQ satellites. Industries and the government, the years. The company also developed the the development of the Dror-1 will SHAVIT launcher, which offers require up to four years to complete The CEO of IAI, Boaz Levi, said that various options for launching and will cost approximately NIS 200 the company is proud to develop smallsats into Low Earth Orbit (LEO). million ($58 million) to develop. the Dror-1 satellite, the most advanced Israeli communications The launch system is based IAI is expected to use Israeli- satellite ever built using various, on flight-proven hardware and developed technologies, for the domestic, developed technologies. software with a unique integration most part, to build the satellite. and launch concept. This reduces significantly the launch preparation

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 19 Crucial Comms Support for Hurricane Dorian’s Emergency Efforts

By Madison Musgraves, SDG Specialist for the Sustainable Development Practice, Maxar Technologies; Benjamin Kennedy, Customer Technical Solutions for BAE Systems’ Geospatial eXploitation Products™ (GXP®) Group; and Lauren Vatier, National Planning Lead, Team Rubicon.

On the Saffi-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, the highest ran is a Category 5 storm, which has sustained winds at 157 First responders can assess the extent of a disaster’s miles per hour or higher. damage prior to arriving on the scene, create plans based on the most recent data and more efficiently When Hurricane Dorian slammed into the Bahamas and stalled for help those in need. more than a day, it had wind gusts of up to 220 miles per hour. Before

Team Rubicon leveraged the geospatial insights provided by Maxar imagery and BAE Systems software to deploy their military veteran volunteers to the hardest hit areas needing assistance after Hurricane Dorian.

the storm, Marsh Harbour was the largest town on Great Abaco Island This high-resolution data supported the humanitarian community by and served as the commercial hub, according to NPR. After the storm, providing critical and actionable information to assist response efforts NPR reported almost every building in Marsh Harbour was damaged and fulfilling Maxar’s purpose, For a Better World. or destroyed. Simultaneously, Team Rubicon started notifying its response teams As the world waited for damage reports from the Bahamas, Maxar of military veterans to prepare to go to the Bahamas. They would be activated its Open Data Program, releasing pre-hurricane and post- treating patients and assessing communities and medical clinics on hurricane satellite imagery of the Bahamas. Abaco Island before transitioning to clearing storm debris to accelerate recovery efforts.

Maxar’s GeoEye-1 satellite imaged the downtown area of Marsh Harbour on Great Abaco Island before Hurricane Dorian on October 25, 2018 (left image) and after the hurricane on September 5, 2019.

20 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 This image shows part of an imagery product produced by a Team Rubicon GeoVis analyst over the town of Marsh Harbour on Abaco Island. The analyst used a Maxar WorldView-3 image collected after the hurricane hit the town and used GXP WebView to identify and annotate damaged homes and roofs.

Before they deployed teams, Team Rubicon needed to know where in Maxar and BAE Systems have worked together since 2017 to provide the Bahamas these teams would have the greatest impact. Team Rubicon Team Rubicon with the geospatial insights they need for planning and deployed 555 volunteers to the Bahamas to assist in the Hurricane Dorian executing disaster response missions. disaster response and recovery efforts. Leveraging Maxar’s SecureWatch platform, BAE Systems integrates high- resolution satellite imagery of the affected area into a comprehensive

Team Rubicon deployed 555 volunteers to the Bahamas to assist in the Hurricane Dorian disaster response and recovery efforts.

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 21 This visual shows part of an imagery product produced by a Team Rubicon GeoVis analyst that identifies buildings of good structural status and high elevation on Abaco Island, The Bahamas. This was used for contingency planning and identified hardened locations for our deployed teams to evacuate to should a storm threaten the island.

ecosystem of software solutions developed by its Geospatial eXploitation The analyst used a Maxar WorldView-3 image collected after the hurricane Products (GXP) technology. hit the town and used GXP WebView to identify and annotate damaged homes and roofs. GXP Xplorer® provides Team Rubicon personnel with data discovery and management applications to quickly access Maxar imagery, as well as This integration of Maxar and BAE Systems capabilities allows Team other types of data, from a web browser anywhere in the world. Rubicon’s GeoVis team to create geospatial situational awareness reports for the Planning and Operations Team at Team Rubicon. With a direct connection to Maxar imagery, Team Rubicon’s Geospatial Visualization (GeoVis) analysts can then stream those files in GXP These reports informed the deployments of medical teams and debris WebView®, a web-based geospatial exploitation tool. This allowed clearing teams. analysts to determine heights, distances, and other measurements; create informative annotations; and publish imagery-based products to assist The GeoVis team has been training for two years on how to create these decision makers in the field. reports based on Maxar imagery and BAE Systems’ GXP software. Team Rubicon’s GeoVis team encompasses approximately 100 volunteers, who Both GXP Xplorer and GXP WebView are deployed in the Amazon Web typically build products and support mission planning teams remotely. Service (AWS) cloud, allowing the GeoVis team to support operations from anywhere in the world, including their own home. Over the last two years, the GeoVis training has been conducted as part of the PATRIOT North and South exercises, which are annual training exercises with the National Guard that prepare civilian and military entities to work together during a disaster.

22 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 Artistic rendition of the WorldView-3 satellite Image is courtesy of Maxar and Lockheed Martin.

The first day is dedicated to learning how to use the software and build First responders can assess the extent of a disaster’s damage prior to products, followed by three days of actioning requests injected into the arriving on the scene, create plans based on the most recent data and exercise. This allows the volunteer to immediately apply the skills learned. more efficiently help those in need. This partnership is just one example of the work that Maxar and non-profit organizations can do together to make After the training, Team Rubicon will initiate the GeoVis team during large- a positive difference in the world. scale disasters to provide situational awareness and help Team Rubicon make informed decisions after a disaster or humanitarian crisis. Maxar empowers non-profit organizations that uniquely benefit from the company’s geospatial data and analytics to advance their global The team is led by the National Planning Team and is now operating nearly development efforts. These Purpose Partners, including Team Rubicon, independently. Team Rubicon volunteers muck out a community-focused reflect Maxar’s purpose, For a Better World. These organizations receive facility in Abaco that would eventually be used to house a large number donations of imagery, analytics and service. of returning survivors. Article by Madison Musgraves, SDG Specialist for the Sustainable In the wake of Hurricane Dorian, the GeoVis team created more than Development Practice, Maxar Technologies; Benjamin Kennedy, Customer 50 reports detailing things like concentration of damaged vs. destroyed Technical Solutions for BAE Systems’ Geospatial eXploitation Products™ properties, identification of potential locations our teams could stay, (GXP®) Group; and Lauren Vatier, National Planning Lead, Team Rubicon. confirmation of roads blocked and identification of high-ground evacuation locations.

Team Rubicon leverages these reports to:

• Deploy 555 volunteers to the Bahamas

• Provided medical care to 93 people and assessed 11 communities and medical clinics

• Cleared debris from over 375 homes/structures/roadways

Team Rubicon puts Maxar and BAE Systems capabilities to work on the ground, exemplifying the power of geospatial data in disaster planning and response.

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 23 The Government Satellite Report

By Ryan Schradin, Executive Editor, GSR, and MilsatMagazine Senior Contributor

U.S. Army modernization requires next-generation MILSATCOM technology Traditionally, the time it takes the military to design, develop, build and launch a new satellite means that, by The network increasingly underlies all aspects of the modern the time they launch a new satellite, the technologies on it battlespace. Whether it’s because strategic concerns require are no longer cutting edge. forces to be more distributed or the increasing complexity of naval systems, it’s undeniable that innovative ways of getting data to the edge are of paramount importance. “When I was at CENTCOM, we were selecting middle-earth orbit satellite constellations for certain The Army is no exception — especially with the introduction of the heavy demand data exfil requirements from northern IVAS system. This new system has the ability to immerse deployed and Syria where we had to get a lot of data off soldiers in a bevy of data — from targeting information, navigational target and transmit back. We didn’t have access to waypoints, or augmented reality inputs. The network that delivers fiber optic cable, so we leveraged commercial MEO the IVAS systems will be a key factor in achieving overmatch in land constellations,” the General said. warfare in the near future. Commercial operators have put the infrastructure Major General The problem is, the U.S. Army is often deployed across the world, and in place, have proved it out, and are utilizing that Peter A. many of those locations either don’t have available terrestrial networks, capability across the globe. Gallagher. or the networks that exist are denied or untrustworthy. This means the Army often lacks the trusted communications infrastructure necessary This is the beauty of MEO satellite constellations like mPOWER. to power next generation applications. For these reasons, alternative Critical advancements in commercial satellite technology make it means of connectivity in austere environments need to be considered possible to beam incredible amounts of data to anywhere in the world, as part of Army modernization initiatives. and that opens up previously inconceivable capabilities: live, 4K HD video; 3D printing in-theater; and real-time augmented reality to name Case in point — during the recent annual meeting of the Association a few, all without the latency associated with constellations in higher, of the U.S. Army (AUSA), Major General Peter Gallagher, who is geostationary orbit. leading the Army’s drive to modernize its network infrastructure, shared a clear example why high-throughput MEO satellites need to In Maj. Gen. Gallagher’s example, this capability is already a boon be part of that solution. to warfighters and is being deployed in one of today’s most crucial

24 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 what both Generals Gallagher and Fogharty alluded to in their AUSA remarks. Two of the men entrusted with the task of Army modernization expect the role of network connectivity to grow, which may very well mean that they’ll need more bandwidth than what the current purpose-built, military satellite infrastructure can provide.

That may be a challenge given the process of building and deploying government satellites.

Traditionally, the time it takes the military to design, develop, build and launch a new satellite means that, by the time they launch a new satellite, the conflict zones — it’s only going to be more Before their data can be delivered to soldiers technologies on it are no longer cutting edge. important that the military can provide that level on the move, the personnel controlling these of network connectivity the world over. remote platforms need to retain control and By contrast, commercial satellite operators are literally keep them flying, and the drones constantly launching new satellites and replacing When talking about how the force of the future themselves need to offload the incredible their older constellations, so the volume of will operate and laying out the roadmap for Army amount of ISR data that their ever-increasing satellites they’re launching simply gives them modernization, Lieutenant General Stephen number of sensors are picking up. more of an opportunity to deploy breakthrough Fogarty, the commander of U.S. Army Cyber technology than what the government can do Command (ARCYBER), made it clear that “the As SES Government Solutions’ Eric Gunzelman by its own devices. network is the foundational weapons system.” said in a recent interview, “When you combine the data generated from airframe sensors and Consequently, if the government takes That’s because so many of the most exciting the data generated by ISR sensors, it’s easy to advantage of this satellite renaissance, it may capabilities that will come out of Army see why the amount of bandwidth needed to mean more secure bandwidth and less latency modernization and that will grant the individual and from the aircraft has jumped significantly. at a faster rate. soldier unprecedented amounts of intelligence, In fact, I recently read an Avascent industry surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data briefing that showed the total number of UAVs As cases such as the one Maj. Gen. Gallagher — such as unmanned combat vehicles and and the total data rate from those UAVs will described continue to arise, making use of helicopter-launched drones — need to send both double between 2015 and 2025. That’s already-trusted, still-expanding commercial and receive huge amounts of data in real time going to require a lot more bandwidth.” resources like high throughput MEO satellite order to be effective. This point also highlights an implication of constellations may be one more way that our military can guarantee its technical overmatch against any potential adversary.

The post U.S. Army modernization requires next-generation satellite technology appeared first on GovSat.

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 25 Integrated satellite architecture essential for multi-domain operations

General David Goldfein, Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force. Image is courtesy of the Air Force Association.

The vignette presented by Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) has claimed it would increasingly rely upon in the future — Gen. David Goldfein at the recent Air Force Association Air, commercial satellites. Space and Cyber Conference was meant to illustrate an awe- inspiring military of the future — one capable of operating in Why Commercial Satellite Matters multiple domains simultaneously to overwhelm an opponent with an incredible show of coordinated military force. While there are many things that commercial satellite services could deliver to the military, there are two specific benefits that I really consider As Gen. Goldfein explained, his vision for future multi-domain operations, the most important — innovation and resiliency, both of which could have “…isn’t just about the domains…nor is it just about executing operations been used by the fictional force in Gen. Goldfein’s vignette. across these domains, we already do that now. Where we’re going is to use dominance in one domain or many, blending a few capabilities or USAF senior leadership has admitted on numerous occasions that the many, to produce multiple dilemmas for our adversaries in a way that will commercial satellite industry is the clear leader in space today. It’s the overwhelm them. This is where we’re going.” leader because it moves quickly and must satiate the world’s enormous appetite for satellite capacity. Commercial satellite providers are constantly A video presentation offered a fictional military situation being responded building and launching new satellites to replace aging spacecraft and to to by the military that Gen. Goldfein claimed we’d need in 2030 — and the fill the capacity requirements of their customers. With the nearly constant force that he and his contemporaries are prepared to create for the nation. and rapid pace of satellite development, construction and launch, the From my seat in the National Harbor’s Gaylord resort, this presentation commercial satellite industry gets frequent opportunities to incorporate was certainly impressive. the latest and greatest technology advancements into their satellites.

The vignette illustrated an integrated and collaborative approach to multi- Compare this to how the military has traditionally operated. The military domain operations that showcased how sea, air, land, space and cyber has been building and launching similar WGS satellites for a decade. The operations could be pressed into service to quickly respond to escalating time it takes the military to design, develop, build and launch a new satellite aggressions from an adversary and almost immediately repel a fictional means that, by the time they launch a new satellite, the technologies on it invasion of an imaginary allied nation. While the vignette and presentation are no longer cutting edge. was impressive and aspirational, some in the room were also frustrated. That’s because, while it incorporated coalition forces in practically every When it comes to resiliency, commercial satellite providers have been long domain, it was obviously missing something that the U.S. Air Force fighting against the misconception that their services are in some way less

26 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 resilient and secure than military satellites. There The response of the coalition forces in the vignette When queried about the is a good reason why that misconception exists, were to bomb targets deep in enemy territory potential to use satellites of there are demonstrated benefits to operating in and relocate military spacecraft — which is an different sizes and in different the X band frequency, as satellite expert, Phil extremely time-consuming and risky response. orbits, General Raymond Harlow, recently articulated in another article on responded, “I think what we’ll the Government Satellite Report: How would that have played out if this futuristic see in the future is a more force was using a combined commercial and hybrid architecture which “With only ten [X band] WGS satellites in military satellite architecture? would provide us with more orbit, there is less chance of adjacent satellite resiliency.“ General John interference. This means that more power can First, the adversary would have struggled Raymond. be put down from each satellite without fear mightily to target the correct satellites. Adding commercial satellite of interfering with other, adjacent satellites (or Today’s commercial satellite industry operates to the military’s network architecture and being interfered with by other satellites). This innovative new satellites in more orbits than just infrastructure was also a priority for Gen. higher power results in a stronger signal on the the traditional geostationary orbit. Raymond moving forward. ground that further overcomes attenuation from environmental factors, increases throughputs With more than 150 satellites in multiple When asked about the timing and roadmap and improves link reliability.” different orbits — including GEO, MEO and toward this combined architecture, the General LEO — that could have been transmitting responded, “[The Air Force] had several However, the small number of WGS satellites military communications in theater, the meetings with the commercial industry to partner creates a resiliency problem itself. If a near- adversary would have struggled mightily to with them on a vision going forward. I expect peer adversary is looking to deny the military’s identify which satellite to target for jamming or to publish a vision document towards that end satellite services – which have long been a even kinetic attacks. in the coming months. We’re here to work with strategic edge for our military — they only industry and I think that the relationships that have ten potential satellites to target. This Should the adversary jammed or denied the correct we have and that were provided to us by the lack of diversity makes it easier for enemies to satellites, the coalition forces in the vignette would National Defense Authorization Act will provide target and deny satellite capabilities, which is have had an even easier, far less risky response us great advantage.” why Kimberly Morris, satellite communications should they have been using an integrated operations division head at the U.S. Naval commercial and military satellite architecture. Both the military and the satellite industry see Network Warfare Command, recently called for the potential that an integrated commercial and an increase in satellite options when she said, They simply could have relocated a digitally- military satellite architecture could have for our “We need diversity – we need a wide range of steered beam from a different commercial nation’s multi-domain operations in the future. diversity,” at the Milsatcom USA Conference. satellite —possibly even one in a different orbit — to deliver high-throughput, low-latency If we’re going to truly win the battle for space By using commercial satellites in conjunction connectivity to the battlefield. and use satellites as part of a military response with military satellites, the ecosystem of potential that will, “produce multiple dilemmas for our satellites that could be carrying military signals No jets would have needed to be scrambled, no adversaries in a way that will overwhelm them,” increases from ten to more than 150. This can military satellites would have needed to expend then commercial satellite needs to be an help to disrupt an adversary’s targeting calculus precious fuel to be repositioned, and no pilots’ integral part of the Air Force’s plans now and as well as provide back-ups, should military lives would have needed to be risked. into the future. satellites be denied. This is why Ken These articles first appeared at the GovSat As Morris said at that same event, “You go after Peterman, the President infosite. To read additional, informative our [military-owned] systems, I’ve got something of Government Systems articles, please visit ses-gs.com/govsat/# else that I can get to. Historically, with a lot of at Viasat, recently told the weapon systems that are brought to bear attendees at a recent Ryan Schradin is the Executive in the modern age, it’s not the primary system panel discussion, “… Editor of GovSat Report. A that has been a hero, it’s the secondary system, within government communications expert and because the enemy puts so much effort into circles, support continues journalist with more than a taking out that primary system.” to build for a DoD, hybrid, decade of experience, Ryan has multi-network adaptive Ken Peterman edited and contributed to With the potential to increase resiliency and enterprise so that the DoD multiple popular online trade bring new, innovative solutions to bear, it’s clear has the improved resiliency, improved mobility publications focused on the that commercial satellite needs to be a part and improved flexibility to take full advantage of satellite, unified communications of military plans in the future. Why wasn’t this commercial innovation.” and network infrastructure industries. presented in the vignette, especially as it could Ryan also contributes articles about satellite have been so beneficial? Where do we stand with that “hybrid, multi- news and trends and conducts written and network adaptive enterprise,” or integrated podcast interviews for the GovSat Report. He What Could Have Been — commercial and military satellite architecture? also contributes to the publication’s industry and What Will Be event and conference coverage, providing I asked Gen. John Raymond, the Commander in-depth reporting from leading satellite shows. During Gen. Goldfein’s vignette, the two of United States Space Command, during a Ryan is a Senior Columnist for MilsatMagazine. coalition military satellites being relied upon media roundtable at the Air, Space and Cyber for communications in every other domain were Conference and he assured all that it’s still on jammed by adversary space assets. the table — even if not in vignettes.

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 27 COTS Processing Evolution

By Scott Anderson, President and Co-Founder,SEAKR Engineering, Inc.

Since the company’s first contract in 1983, SEAKR has won, developed, and delivered hundreds of processing based Artificial Intelligence and machine learning is key to subsystems for spacecraft payload applications leveraging achieving the full promise of evolving new constellations. Commercial-Off-the-Shelf (COTS) technology. Almost 300 This requires unique, on board processing that has never company units have launched and properly performed or previously been flown. are currently performing their mission today.

SEAKR’s systems have found their way into critical, cannot fail subsystems C-band transponders into a true layer-three-router. Quality of service, for NASA, DoD and commercial satellites. SEAKR has been a pioneer delay tolerant networking and other IP features were demonstrated. pushing state-of-the-art solutions using COTS Central Processing Units (CPUs) and Field Programmable Arrays (FPGAs) to leapfrog traditional As the name implies, the AIP processing system is highly adaptable to spacecraft systems. With 35 years fielding high performance systems, a wide range of On-Board Processing (OBP) applications such as image SEAKR has achieved invaluable insight to enable future applications processing, data compression, communications processing, hyper- requiring vast performance increase. spectral processing, autonomous docking and high-speed switching. More than a half-dozen AIP based systems with vastly different missions In the early 1990’s, SEAKR’s first flight systems were truly revolutionary and sensor types have been delivered and flown. Subsequently, the and employed the commercial Motorola 68302 communication AIP architecture evolved into SEAKR’s Cronus architecture, improving processor. At the time, this CPU was an enormous jump in performance modularity, redundancy schema and upset mitigation through a over the leading rad hard MIL-STD-1750 CPU. centralized, switched fabric system configuration and control.

The success of this COTS processor led SEAKR to expand our portfolio IridiumNext represents SEAKR’s flagship program using Cronos to include the commercial Texas Instruments TMS320C40 CPUs for Architecture with 81 Flight units delivered, 75 successfully launched mission critical Digital Signal Processing (DSP) applications and a line into orbit and are performing brilliantly as the architecture network’s of Power PC Single Board Computers including, the Motorola Power core communication system. With this constellation, SEAKR now has PC 603s, G4 and Freescale 8548. Needless to say, these COTS based over 900 SIRF V5 FPGAs and 225 MPC8548 PowerPC CPUs on-orbit. processors crushed the standard issue rad hard CPU generations of their time period. With Cronus architecture as its foundation, the IridiumNext On-Board- Processor (OBP — see Figure 2) is a reconfigurable processor providing Jumping forward to the late 2000’s and state-of-the-practice today, all necessary hardware, DSP firmware and software for inter-satellite some systems and applications are shown below in Figure 1. SEAKR’s communication, L-band subscriber links and Ka-band gateway and architecture approach over the years intentionally evolved to achieve feeder links. flexibility and adaptability. SEAKR’s Internet Router-In-Space (IRIS) launched the Application Independent Processor (AIP) architecture, Re-programmability was a critical enabler for Iridium as they deployed and its implementation paved a milestone for coupling multiple Ku- and the NEXT constellation and orchestrated transition from legacy

Figure 1.

28 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 Evolving further, SEAKR’s newest qualified architecture is Mod-Mesh™ which leveraged and improved the VITA-78 (SpaceVPX) standard and provides a high-speed Serial Rapid I/O (SRIO) switch fabric with SpaceWire command plane.

The result is a modular and open systems architecture providing substantial flexibility in application instantiation, data management and movement, interface compatibility and 3rd party module integration.

This is achieved by SEAKR’s open Interface Figure 4. Hyperion. Control Document (ICD) and 3rd party software Figure 2. Flight Iridium Next OBP. or firmware implementation through Application functionality to enhanced NEXT features, while Programing Interfaces (APIs) and wrappers What Next? The Future is AI retaining backward compatibility. Further, respectively. In all architectures, agility is achieved the modular architecture provides enhanced through commonality, standard and mezzanine With multi-hundreds, if not thousands, of satellites redundancy management affording expanded interfaces, base platform reuse, software in proposed constellations, how does one control processing capacity. modularity, logic design and verification reuse and operation such systems? What if autonomous libraries and switched connectivity fabrics. operation such as tip and queuing, fault isolation Wolverine (see Figure 3), a new RF processor, and autonomous spacecraft repair and/or pushes the Cronos architecture to next generation This network architecture can be and has been replacements are required? Ultrascale FPGAs and employs dramatically propagated throughout an entire spacecraft tying higher sample rate Analog-to-Digital Converter/ all payloads into one fully networked construct. Artificial Intelligence and machine learning is Digital to Analog Converters (ADCs/DACs). key to achieving the full promise of evolving More than a half dozen spacecraft and multiple new constellations. This requires unique, on This RF processor provides approximately 10 customers have adapted this state-of-the-art board processing that has never previously Ghz of fully processed Ka- functionality and is network for their spacecraft central nervous been flown. State-of-the-art 7nm electronics baselined on four communication satellites — 2 system and data flow. common in internet cloud computing centers GEO and 2 MEO. and terrestrial edge computing will have to be Lastly, during the last 20 years, commercial used. With the architecture fully reconfigurable, communication satellites have increasing embraced SEAKR adapted it to be an image processor digital processing rather than purely bent pipe Toward this revolutionary processing capability called Hyperion (see Figure 4). architectures. SEAKR’s contribution to next for future constellations, SEAKR has recently generation RF processing technology leverages been selected by DARPA to develop the Pit The Hyperion system provides Non-Uniformity commercial ultra-high sample, wide-bandwidth ADC/ Boss processor for the BlackJack constellation. Correction (NUC), bad pixel replacement, binning, DACs with digital beamforming, channelization, SEAKR will be bringing forward unprecedented and multiple Gbps of image compression. functionality, and multi Terabytes per autonomy and capabilities for this crucial Combined with high-capacity data storage, the second of network data flow to facilitate Terabit per USG program. same architecture can be applied to on-orbit second hybrid lasercom/HTS payloads. feature detection for indications, targeting and tracking against threats. The Hyperion system will New systems under development will start fielding Scott Anderson is the President be used on eight different imaging spacecraft for two years from now. and Co-Founder of SEAKR two different customers. Engineering, Inc..

Figure 3. Wolverine Waterfall.

MilsatMagazine — January 2020 29 Protecting Space Assets

By Rebecca Cowen-Hirsch, Senior Vice President, Government Strategy and Policy, Inmarsat Government

As a person who has always found space technology endlessly fascinating, I often think about how broadly satellite advancements As more and more objects enter space, we will always seek touch upon the wide range of human experiences. In our blogs, we improved information from this data to safely navigate this have frequently conveyed how satellite communications (SATCOM) ever-changing and increasingly complex environment. supports the military mission.

However, we must also recognize that SATCOM helps us — governments, corporations, communities and citizens — forecast At the 8th Annual Space & Satellite Regulatory Colloquium in weather, use GPS applications, watch television programs, make phone Washington, D.C., I had the opportunity to expand upon this topic calls, supply electrical power and respond to disasters, among many during a panel discussion on space situational awareness (SSA). During other use cases. The outcomes from space effect all aspects of our the session, the question of “Who is responsible to fix this?” came up. daily lives. Is it the government? Is it industry? My reply is, “Both.”

That is why we are growing increasingly watchful over the sustainability of Our satellite industry plays an essential and driving role in today’s the space domain across all orbits, including threats in geosynchronous national security strategy rather than a secondary or reactive one. Across (GEO) orbit. Risks to this domain from debris, other satellites and all domains and capabilities, the commercial industry continues to behaviors — unintentional or not —are increasing. innovate and advance comparably and even beyond what governments can do. We pursue these accomplishments not as competitors to As a result, the space-operating environment has become more agencies, but as collaborators for assured, protected access to space. contested, degraded and operationally-limited, which drives the need for enhanced space situational awareness (SSA) to better protect assets SSA sharing proves critical for a safe and secure space domain. It fosters in space. the openness, predictability and transparency of space operations. Our unprecedented SSA and supporting architecture provides timely It is about more than just data and more than just cataloging objects — indications and warnings of potential threats operating in orbit. As it is about maintaining custody of data and supporting the command trusted operators, we have an obligation to operate responsibly in and control of these assets. Increased knowledge of the space domain space and demand similar behavior from others. and sufficient information to make informed and timely operational decisions for safe operation of satellites is required.

30 MilsatMagazine — January 2020 The collection and analysis of data remains a However, this framework must be elastic as Inmarsat wholeheartedly agrees and believes in critical component of SSA. We need data that innovation continues to change the playbook. responsible stewardship — it is in our collective tells us where our assets are, and how to operate For example, the U.S. President’s Space Policy interest to enhance the overall safety and in space in a way that does not put these assets Directive-3 (SPD-3) acknowledged that new debris sustainability of space. We are far past the time at risk, i.e., collision avoidance. We need data mitigation rules are needed to adjust to changes of simply “admiring the problem” and saying that pinpoints the presence and volume of in the environment, requiring greater agility. “this is too difficult.” debris. As more and more objects enter space, we will always seek improved information from “Emerging commercial ventures … are As President Kennedy told us in the immortal this data to safely navigate this ever-changing increasingly outpacing efforts to develop and words of his “We choose to go to the Moon” and increasingly complex environment. implement government policies and processes speech, “we do these things, not because they to address these new activities,” states the are easy, but because they are hard, because Toward this goal, Inmarsat is proud to be one directive. “To maintain U.S. leadership in that goal will serve to organize and measure of the founding members of the Space Data space, we must develop a new approach to the best of our energies and skills, because that Association (SDA), an international coalition space traffic management (STM) that addresses challenge is one that we are willing to accept, that brings together satellite operators to current and future operational risks. This new one we are unwilling to postpone, and one support the controlled, reliable and efficient approach must set priorities for space situational which we intend to win.” sharing of data critical to the safety and awareness (SSA) and STM innovation in science integrity of the space environment and the and technology (S&T), incorporate national In addition, we as industry should shine a light radio frequency (RF) spectrum. security considerations, encourage growth of on the challenges we face to the general public the U.S. commercial space sector, establish an at large, while illuminating how satellites benefit We all know the time-tested dogma, “Rubbish updated STM architecture and promote space our daily lives. in/rubbish out” … If the data is not good enough, safety standards and best practices across the then the system is highly flawed. Through international community.” People respond to things that they care ongoing education and collaboration, the SDA about and their support can help fuel forward seeks to inform our industry and government With the Department of Defense (DoD) tracking momentum for continued progress among partners with an understanding that improving more than 20,000 objects in space — a number industry and government leaders. the data that goes into the system, the better that will rise dramatically as new, more capable our knowledge of the space catalog. sensors detect smaller objects — the “volume With that, we can ensure the protection of and location of orbital debris are growing the space assets that impact us so greatly and This is just one role that we as a trusted industry threats to space activities,” the directive states. positively, in so many ways. leader take on, so that the space environment “It is in the interest of all to minimize new is sustained for the long-term future. But, as debris and mitigate effects of existing debris. This article first appeared at the Inmarsat indicated, we need government to step up as This fact, along with increasing numbers of Government blog infosite. To read well, to federate the problem by leveraging active satellites, highlights the need to update additional, informative articles, please visit industry-generated data and analysis. With this, existing orbital debris mitigation guidelines the government can appropriate funding and and practices to enable more efficient and www.inmarsatgov.com/news-events/ develop a regulatory framework that incentivizes effective compliance, and establish standards news/?cat=blog responsible activity while increasing costs for that can be adopted internationally.” irresponsible operators. Rebecca M. Cowen-Hirsch is Senior Vice President for Government Strategy and Policy of Inmarsat’s Government Business Unit and she is also a Senior Columnist to MilsatMagazine.

Artistic rendition of Inmarsat’s fifth Global Xpress V-HTS satellite — GX5 — on-orbit. Image is courtesy of the company.

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