SBIR-STTR Award

AeroAstro proposes to develop a wideband, broad area coverage RF sensor (antenna and receiver) capable of detecting the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated during a spacecraft's nominal operations. This EMI is an exploitable form of RF MASINT, specifically unintended radiated emissions (URE), and could provide useful information if detected, identified, and characterized. Development of a wideband RF sensor could allow detection of space objects and could cue or tip-off more capable imaging sensors for focused characterization. In addition to detecting presence, a wideband RF sensor could also be used to evaluate a spacecraft's health and on-orbit status and provide characterization information of its hardware, equipment, and components. AeroAstro's extensive research into terrestrial URE collection and our initial testing against actual spacecraft components has revealed that an effective small size, low weight, power, and cost space-qualified sensor could be developed and potentially integrated as a standard payload to future high value space assets or as an anomaly characterization payload on small microsat/nanosat class satellites.

Keywords:
Wideband, Radio Frequency, Space Situational Awareness, Ure, Emi, Impulsive, Sensor, Rso

There are three specific objectives in this Phase II proposal. The first objective is to expand on the new aspects of the science and RF remote sensing abilities of unintentional signals in space environments. A second objective is to continue development of a wideband unintentional signal receiver and deliver it as a capability in pursuit of characterizing satellites. The third objective is to design a receiver that takes the uncovered new science aspects of space environment RF remote sensing and factors in lessons learned on the developed wideband receiver into a joint-capabilities receiver design that includes all applicable signal types of narrowband, wideband, and "quasi-narrowband" unintentional signals. Our study plan shows specific tasking to achieve these three objectives and contribute to on-going government activities in a highly iterative fashion.

Keywords:
Emi, Rf, Receivers, Unintentional Emissions, Satellite, Space Situational Awareness, Signatures, Characterization