Washington – Slingshot Aerospace, an analysis company of space data, obtained a contract from the American Air Force Air Force program to refine a technique for satellites “fingerprints” in orbit using photometric and artificial intelligence. The contract, a research agreement on small businesses innovation (SBIR), will support the progression of the techniques used to identify and analyze the behavior of satellites in orbit, the company announced on April 2.
The project focuses on photometric digital imprintA method that takes advantage of the light curves – measurements of the brightness of a satellite over time – to create a unique signature for each space object. These light curves are influenced by the shape of a satellite, the composition of the materials and the orientation in relation to the sun and the observer on earth. By collecting and analyzing this data, Slingshot said that he can classify satellites, detect anomalies and maintain custody of objects in low terrestrial orbit.
Slingshot claims that it has one of the most extensive photometric data benchmarks, its network of sensors according to around 14,500 active satellites and debris objects. Each night, its sensors generate more than 4.5 million photometric observations, feeding its database to refine and extend digital fingerprints for space objects.
Us Space Command, which oversees military activities in orbit, is a key customer for this capacity, said the company. With photometric fingerprints, military operators could detect unexpected maneuvers by opponents’ satellites, identify newly launched foreign satellites and reactivate lost objects. This type of intelligence is particularly precious in the scenarios where opponents can try to disguise the functions of their satellites or to modify their orbits to escape detection.
As part of the SBIR contract, which lasts 12 months, Slingshot Aerospace will focus on the integration of photometric fingerprints with its Agatha ai system. Agatha is designed to analyze the behavior of satellites and report anomalies in large constellations.
The financial details of the contract have not been disclosed. Its “direct phase 2” status suggests that technology is already at a mature prototype stage.