ADVANCED SPACE News:
WESTMINSTER — Advanced Space, with partners Orion Space Solutions and ExoAnalytic Solutions, was recently awarded a Phase II contract with the IARPA Space Debris Identification and Tracking (SINTRA) program to continue the development of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML) and other novel approaches for the detection, tracking, and characterization of currently non-trackable space debris in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) to Geosynchronous Orbit (GEO). During Phase I, Advanced Space and partners found compelling evidence for using unique phenomena to detect and track orbital debris and in Phase II, will focus on multi-modal data collection and processing, large-scale statistical analyses of observed phenomena, and AI/ML methodologies for processing and creating data.
Less than 1% of debris with the potential to cause mission-ending damage is currently tracked, posing ongoing threat to missions operating in Earth’s orbit and those transiting to cislunar or deep space destinations.
The IARPA SINTRA program began in July 2023 to understand the interaction of orbital debris with the surrounding space environment, and whether the resulting phenomena can be used to detect, track, and characterize small, lethal non-trackable orbital space debris. Debris less than 10cm in size cannot be tracked with current methodologies but pose a significant threat to space assets. SINTRA seeks to enable the tracking of the small debris population through developing state-of-the-art for sensors capable of detecting debris signatures and develop automated methods for signature analysis and debris tracking. Phase II of SINTRA will focus on characterization and maintaining custody of objects and is slated to be completed by end of January 2027.
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Advanced Space (https://advancedspace.com/) exists to enable the sustainable exploration, development, and settlement of space through software and services that leverage unique subject matter expertise to improve the fundamentals of spaceflight. The company is actively supporting mission and cutting-edge capabilities spanning commercial, civil, international, and national security customers. Through its Mission Enabling Services, Advanced Space provides mission and flight optimization, mission design, and mission systems engineering. With its Technology Solutions, Advanced Space provides its customers with trusted AI/ML/autonomy expertise, flight-demonstrated applications, and analysis at scale. Advanced Space offers Mission Solutions with unique, rapid, turn-key missions, data, and capabilities purchases, as well as demonstrated success in cislunar and Martian operations. Advanced Space is the owner and operator of CAPSTONE™ for NASA and the Prime contractor for Oracle for AFRL. Trusted to take on the challenge, the team at Advanced Space is Delivering Innovation to Orbit™, to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.