A greater understanding of low earth orbit
Space Situational AwarenessÌý(SSA)Ìýis the understanding of the very large number of objects in orbit around the Earth,Ìýthe complex and dynamic environment that they orbit in, and their interactions with that environment. Such understanding is critical to space traffic management, collision avoidance and space domain conduct monitoring—all necessary to ensureÌýour secure access to space-based technologies. UNSW Canberra Space performs research in the science of SSA, including space surveillance, space physics, astrodynamicsÌýand the application of machine learning to each of these fields.Ìý
Associated schools, institutes & centres
Impact
Our research capability and expertise in Space Situational Awareness includesÌýspace mission experience that quantifies the impact of astrodynamics on spacecraft in Low Earth Orbit (LEO).ÌýÌý
We contribute to increased knowledge and preparedness within Defence regarding critical challenges relating to SSA.
Competitive advantage
UNSW Canberra Space is a global leader in SSA scienceÌýresearchÌýforÌýa number ofÌýkey reasons:Ìý
- We have developed physics-based numerical codes with which we study ionospheric plasma aerodynamics—the aerodynamic behaviour of charged objects such as satellites orbiting at high speed in the rarefied ionospheric plasma environment. Such effects can explain observed anomalous orbital behaviour, yetÌýtheyÌýare notÌýtaken into accountÌýin orbital analyses.Ìý
- We combine high-fidelity aerodynamicÌýandÌýspace environmentÌýsimulationsÌýwith orbit propagators and advanced machine learning methods to study satellite formation control and space collision avoidance approaches.Ìý
- Our combination of space research and space mission capabilities enables us to use eachÌýof ourÌýcubesatÌýmission to perform in-orbit research to support advances in SSA. This includes controlling the motion ofÌýtheÌýspacecraftÌýwith our space surveillance trackingÌýtelescopes andÌýcoupling our observations with numerical reconstructions of the astrodynamics.
Successful applications
UNSW Canberra Space’s applications of our SSA researchÌýinclude:Ìý
- using our optical and numerical SSA techniques to studyÌýthe reflected-sunlight light curves that are generated due to various motions of the Buccaneer Risk Mitigation Mission spacecraftÌý
- aero-assisted formation control strategies for the Royal Australian Air ForceÌýM2 dual satellite programÌýÌý
- applying our understanding of the physics of ionospheric aerodynamics to propose propulsion-free satellite de-orbit approaches from higher altitudes than normally thought possibleÌý
- multiple US Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) grants for ionospheric aerodynamic research to enable improved orbital control of LEO spacecraftÌý
- imaging the deployment of the Plant Flock 3p (the largest number of satellites launched on a single rocket in history) just two hours after launchÌý
- obtaining light curve information onÌýPlant Flock 3pÌýcubesats,Ìýto assistÌýinternational universities withÌýunderstandingÌýand troubleshootingÌýthe behaviour of their satellitesÌý
- assisting CSIRO and JPL in the analysis of dataÌýbyÌýapplying the Tidbinbilla and Parkes very large radio telescopes as bi-static radar instruments for tracking near-Earth asteroids.
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Partners
- Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF)Ìý
- Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG)Ìý
- USAF Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR)Ìý
Study with us
Space Situational Awareness education is offered as both aÌýfourth-year undergraduate engineering electiveÌýand as part of our delivery of the online Master of Space Engineering and Master of Space Operations programs.Ìý
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