The GuardianSat™ Solution
GuardianSat has a patented solution to add to high Earth-orbiting satellites – a proprietary subsystem that detects orbital debris, tracks the orbital debris which could strike the satellite, and autonomously maneuvers the satellite seamlessly so that collision with that debris does not occur. Thereafter the system can maneuver the satellite back to its original position without interference with the satellite’s primary mission.
The GuardianSat™ Solution includes satellite control systems, highly optimized sensor and tracking systems, and intelligent processing and interfaces which cooperate with thruster and communication subsystems for enhanced space awareness and control of a satellite. In addition, the GuardianSat™ Solution includes a hub system satellite for providing space awareness data within a satellite mesh network which includes one or more GuardianSat satellites dedicated to the detection, tracking, and processing of observation data, and providing space awareness data to other satellites, spacecraft and ground systems.
The GuardianSat™ Solution also includes the distribution of processed space awareness data, including ephemeris information related to the relative position of satellites, debris, and other objects in space, which can be used by other orbiting satellites or ground stations for collision avoidance of orbiting satellites, launching vehicles, and interorbital maneuvers of spacecraft, for example.
DETECT
More specifically, the GuardianSat™ Solution includes a sensor subsystem having complementary sensor systems: a long-range debris location scan function followed by a tracking function of detected debris. The long-range location scan functions for both location and relative velocity.
PREDICT
For those objects where collision with the satellite is likely, their position data is provided to a tracker. The tracker can very accurately measure the distance, angle, and velocity of a piece of debris or another object. Tracker data is then added to the ephemerides generator so that an accurate assessment of future collision can be made.
AVOID
If a collision is likely, the debris object and its orbit parameters are sent to the maneuver function. This first computation of satellite movement is to avoid the collision and is performed to ensure satellite safety. A second set of movement commands are generated periodically to correct or maintain satellite position as well as to move the satellite to another orbital position. This maneuver allows the satellite to continue its mission or adopt a modified mission under a set of predetermined protocols.
REPORT
A reporting function is provided wherein the system stores the received sensor data, collision analysis, and any maneuver performance data, and provides processed information reports. Specifically, the GuardianSat™ Solution system, besides debris, senses adjacent satellites and other objects in the spheroid surrounding the satellite. This proprietary processed data can be distributed to ground systems and/or other satellites through a telemetry subsystem for use in space awareness by third parties.
Risk Mitigation
Large reconnaissance and communications satellites each cost a few billion dollars to build and launch. An unpredictably shortening of their lifetime requires costly replacement programs and such orbital debris collision failures cause the loss of the intelligence/communications they provide for a very long period. Also, the replacement/re-launch has its own launch failure risk.
GuardianSat™ provides a solution to minimize and eliminate the impending problem of collision with orbital debris thus saving hundreds of millions of dollars on replacement satellite programs and downtime with a pre-programmed solution for orbital debris sense and avoid subsystems.
GuardianSat™ provides the solution as part of pre-planned program improvement and modification of requirements or specifications for new satellite systems to government agencies or large Tier 1 Space Contractors.