Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Needs for an Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Carol A. Raymond NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory John O. Bristow and Mark R. Schoeberl NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure : What is it? Why is it needed? Is it feasible? What benefits will result?

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, What is it? Multiple spacecraft working collaboratively Confederation Constellation Virtual Instrument Sensorweb

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Landsat-7 SAC-C Terra 15 min EO-1 Confederation: heterogeneous, non-interacting satellites observing similar phenomena in near real-time Morning Constellation Multiple spacecraft working collaboratively

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Constellation: homogeneous, non-interacting satellites in different orbits to improve coverage Multiple spacecraft working collaboratively GPS LEO Constellation for atmospheric T & H 2 O Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Multiple spacecraft working collaboratively Virtual Instrument: coordinated observations by interacting satellites Co-boresighting, collective pointing Interaction and cooperation Formation flying Leonardo GRACE

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Information Synthesis Access to Knowledge Value Added Providers User Community Advanced Sensors Information Public Sensorweb: networked spacecraft and sensors operating autonomously and collectively

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Why is it Needed? Distributed sensors suites: Improve spatial and temporal resolution Avoid conflicting observing requirements Allow operational flexibility and evolution Spacecraft Autonomy: Allows response to emerging phenomena Simplifies multi-spacecraft operations Enables direct-to-user data products

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Distributed Sensor Suites High spatial and temporal resolution: Surface hydrology & precipitation Surface deformation Land imaging & vegetation monitoring Ocean salinity Radiative flux Atmospheric chemistry Observational and operational flexibility: Data fusion to identify emergent phenomena Add and upgrade sensors efficiently and cost-effectively All observations optimized

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Spacecraft Autonomy Streamlines and reduces cost of managing fleets of spacecraft Allows rapid response to events and evolving systems Achieves onboard data processing to deliver information direct to the users from space

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, The Challenge Launch many spacecraft instead of large buses Must reduce size, weight and cost per bus Small, low-power multi-spacecraft systems must be capable and return large-bus science to be cost-effective Need modularity and reuseability to minimize recurring costs, but also need highly integrated sensorcraft to minimize resource use. Must optimize meeting the science requirements and building cheap buses

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Technology Drivers Communications Autonomy Microspacecraft Minaturized, low power sensors

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Key Technologies Needed Interspacecraft Communications Crosslinks & Protocols Data Management, Analysis & Fusion Nano Technologies & Miniature Electronics Autonomy Low-Cost Microspacecraft Mass Production Compact Sensors & Instruments

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Communications Standards and protocols  Example is Mars UHF comms network Low-power, variable bandwidth interspacecraft links Data compression Discussed in next talk “Operating Mission as Nodes on the Internet”

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Microspacecraft Modularity and reuseability  Must serve multiple science users with flexible spacecraft structures and systems  Example is GPS flight receiver with embedded star camera heads, running closed-loop autonomous control software commanding microthrusters, and providing command and data handling and storage for plug-in sensors, as well as a communications scheduler/interface Quality-controlled mass production Low-power microelectronics Low-impulse-bit propulsion systems

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Compact low-power sensors and instruments Lightweight optics Uncooled focal plane arrays Master/drone architectures Composite materials Deployed apertures/structures ………..

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Autonomy Closed-loop formation control High level planning and scheduling Fault diagnosis and recovery Collective pointing and data acquisition Event detection and response Data processing, direct-to-user products and onboard storage of useful bits High bandwidth comms link s/c to ground

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Benefits Provide requisite spatial and temporal resolution to tackle the future vision Seamless integration of space systems and end-users Operational flexibility and evolvability Risks can be better managed Higher science value

Intelligent Distributed Spacecraft Infrastructure Earth Science Vision Session IGARSS 2002 Toronto, CA June 25, Conclusions Specific science requirements of future distributed spacecraft architectures need better development  Sensor/instrument accommodation rules! Need focused development of modular and scaleable systems:  Core spacecraft systems (microelectronics)  Communications standards and protocols  Autonomous operations and event detection Migrating today’s technologies to space will revolutionize the observing power of future space based systems