1. Challenges Identifying Newly Launched Objects
Dr. T.S. Kelso

2. Overview Background Preparing for Success Methodology
Tool Development & Validation
Operational Performance
Conclusions

3. Background
Large multi-payload deployments present unique SSA challenges
Cubesat form factor & design make it even more so
Need ways to quickly track & identify all payloads
Failing to do so jeopardizes mission assurance & safety of flight

4. Preparing for Success Operators can drive improvements
Pre-launch/post-deployment state vectors
Share data in advance with JSpOC
Develop independent tracking capability
Two-way ranging
GPS
Simultaneous Doppler tracking
Passive RFID techniques

5. Methodology 4 cases involving Planet cubesats examined
2 prior to/2 following tool development
Looking for key milestones
Time to first TLE
Time to unique identification
Pre-Development
Launch/Deployment
Total Payloads
Planet Payloads
ISS (2016 May 16-Jun 2) 33 24
PSLV-C34 (2016 Jun 22) 20 12
Post-Development
PSLV-C37 (2017 Feb 15)
104 88
KANOPUS-V-IK (2017 Jul 14) 73 48

6. ISS Deployments (2016 May 16-Jun 2)

7. PSLV-C34 Launch (2016 Jun 22)

8. Tool Development Assignment/matching process Standard reporting
Based on RMS not closest distance
Standard reporting
Best match to operator data
Best unique match to JSpOC data
Multiple allowable matches to JSpOC data
JSpOC objects having no matches
Tool takes ~1 minute for 88-object case

9. Tool Validation Two validation runs
All Planet TLEs against all JSpOC TLEs for Planet
All matches correct—No Type I or Type II errors
Correctly identified RapidEye as having no matches
RMS values of 0.1 to 15.0 km
All Planet TLEs against all ISS-related TLEs
Correctly identified non-Planet objects as having no matches
Best results for non-matches had RMS values in the thousands of kilometers

10. Operational Performance
Results detailed on following slides
PSLV-C37 demonstrated potential
Required confidence building
Found misidentification of INS-1B
KANOPUS-V-IK showed dramatic improvement
Significant delays for non-Planet objects
Still working some identifications due to anomalies

11. PSLV-C37 Launch (2017 Feb 15), Part 1

12. PSLV-C37 Launch (2017 Feb 15), Part 2

13. PSLV-C37 Launch (2017 Feb 15), Part 3

14. KANOPUS-V-IK Launch (2017 Jul 14), Part 1

15. KANOPUS-V-IK Launch (2017 Jul 14), Part 2

16. Conclusions Significant improvement demonstrated
Having pre-launch vectors can help
Identification requires independent tracking data and willingness to share
Cubesat community needs to enable success
Find/test solutions
Seek ways to make available to all operators
We must do better to support mission assurance & safety of flight

17. Questions?