On September 17, NorthStar Earth & Space Systems announced that it has been selected by Riverside Research to team on the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Space-WATCH program to improve and enhance capabilities to detect threats in space from unexpected events or maneuvers (“anomalies”).
Riverside Research will use deep learning methods on new observations and state vectors generated from NorthStar’s “always on,” space-based Wide Field of View (WFOV) space-based situational awareness (SSA) collection, its synthetic simulations, and its patented processing routines to deliver more advanced commercial SSA tools for automated detection, tracking, and characterization of Resident Space Object (RSO) maneuvers and space object separation events for improved space navigation and safety-of-flight. The Riverside Research solution is containerized and cloud-based for secure integration into existing software systems and scalable to allow extensibility to emerging sensors and proliferated space architectures.
“Advanced decision-making tools are an essential feature to ensure the security of space,” said Tim Waltz, vice president of sensors and systems at Riverside Research. “NorthStar’s cutting-edge technology and innovative approach to collecting space-based observations serve as game-changers to unlocking the full potential of our advanced algorithms. NorthStar’s expertise complements our ability to detect and track space objects and debris with unprecedented accuracy, driving forward our mission to achieving assured Space Domain Awareness and to addressing the growing challenges of space congestion at speed and scale.”
Riverside Research and NorthStar are also developing an enhanced automated tip-and-cue solution that leverages NorthStar’s discovery of anomalous events to drive tasking of an orchestrated collection with auxiliary sensors for providing detailed object characterization and actionable domain awareness and insights for end users.
“Space is congested and contested. It is critical to provide defense and commercial space operators with accurate and timely space situational awareness,” said Will Woods, director of technology for NorthStar. “The partnership between Riverside Research and NorthStar will directly address this urgent challenge.”
Source: NorthStar
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By Loren Blinde
September 18, 2024
