SBIR-STTR Award

Ensemble intends to develop a proof-of concept Neutral Density Monitoring and Alert Service. To establish an innovative and accurate space weather analytics service, Ensemble has partnered with CU Boulder's SWx-TREC, who offer leading space weather research-to-operations support. Ensemble will create the foundational architecture for Neutral Density Alerts and Notifications for commercial satellite operators using functionalized NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) WAM-IPE output data to 1) generate density profiles across LEO altitudes and 2) generate local density drag profiles based on a satellite's two-line element. Ensemble will extract, functionalize, analyze, and store daily WAM-IPE output, evaluating the model at specific times and altitudes within LEO. Using this information, we will compute global average density profiles. The team will then generate predicted local neutral density profiles for a satellite's orbital trajectory. This will lay the groundwork to create energy-based drag calculations, aiding in the estimation of a spacecraft's daily altitude loss. Ensemble will design dashboard interface for users to interact with the WAM-IPE model, visualize forecasts, and customize alerts. The interface design will be tailored to a commercial satellite operator needs. Ensemble seeks to demonstrate the value to functionalized space weather data for the commercial satellite industry and pave the way for future space weather commercial services.