Quantitative analysis of cyber risk: how do we best manage it?
Quantitative analysis cyber risk, based on the probability and consequences of different types of attacks, allows rational allocation of risk management resources. I will briefly present the method and five illustrative vignettes, including a statistical analysis of 60,000 cyber incidents (funded by NASA), the optimization of the level of connectivity in a network (illustrated by…
Optimized Ground Solutions to Support Unique Small Satellite Communication Requirements
Many considerations go into providing reliable communications to small satellites. This paper will explore how SSC is optimizing its existing global ground station network to support the unique requirements of small satellites, including the Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) constellation of 8 microsatellites. SSC has provided the ground network for CYGNSS TT&C operations since…
Resilient, Scalable, Secure, Enterprise Ground Services (EGS) of the Future
Previous satellite ground architectures were custom designed for each satellite system. This methodology is typically called stove-piped architecture. Although there may have been valid reasons in the past for custom design of every satellite ground system, the newer trend is to design enterprise ground services (EGS), resulting in a common services infrastructure. An EGS takes…
Thinking Outside the Cube
Small satellites have become attractive tools for diverse space mission applications. Groups of small satellites are well placed to address applications that require global coverage or high temporal resolution, which cannot be achieved with an individual satellite. CubeSat standard formats and interfaces have made it easier to develop small spacecraft, and encouraged the creation of…
Selling Water Sourced in Space? You Still Owe Taxes to Uncle Sam.
This paper gives insight into what businesses and governments should expect as we enter the age of space commercialization. Because wherever profits are found, taxes are sure to follow! Investors, entrepreneurs and governments should be interested in knowing what the expected after-tax proceeds of investing in space will be. This knowledge helps better assess the…
Cislunar Economy and ACES
CisLunar-1000 is a vision for 1000 people living and working in space 30 years from now. The Moon and the cislunar economy are on the horizon for human development. How do we get there and what do we do once we’re there are the major questions the space industry is asking. United Launch Alliance (ULA)…
JPSS-1 – Building the Nation’s Next Generation Operational Weather Satellite
A new generation of Earth-observing satellites are making a dramatic difference in the ability of scientists to predict short and long duration weather events and long-term climate change. The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) is the next generation polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system for the United States. JPSS is a collaborative program between NOAA and…
Radius of Curvature Matching System for a Space Based Segmented Telescope
As space based telescopes continue to get larger and larger it has become necessary to split the primary mirror up into multiple segments. This allows for the telescope to be folded up within the launch fairing and deployed once on orbit. While there are obvious advantages with this segmented approach it is not without its…
Demonstrating Autonomous Spacecraft Assembly with the Intelligent Space Assembly Robot
Historically, larger spacecraft like the International Space Station (ISS) have been assembled over long periods of time using astronaut intensive assembly schemes. Not only does this approach add time and cost to the construction process, but it also ignores the maturity of robotic systems. Fully autonomous robots have the capability to accomplish tasks from sorting…
Spacehand: The Next Generation On-Orbit-Servicing Tool
Telecommunication and observations satellites are the backbone of many fantastic technologies and improves the life quality of billions of humans beings. Maintaining and upgrading a network of such satellites is, however, remaining a challenging and expensive task. The concept on robotic on-orbit servicing provides an elegant and cost effective approach to the challenge, allowing to…