JMAPS Star Catalog to Improve Satellite and Weapon Systems Accuracy

Photo By Nicole Collins | (Left to right) Paul DeLaHunt, JMAPS project manager, NRL, and LCDR Sam Messer, JMAPS program manager review key performance requirements at the NRL facility in Washington, D.C.  

WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES

12.09.2010

Story by Nicole Collins 

Naval Information Warfare Systems Command (NAVWAR)

The stars will align with the launch of the Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command Joint Milli-Arcsecond Pathfinder Survey spacecraft. The program recently transitioned from an Office of Naval Research science and technology program to a Program Executive Office Space Systems ACAT II acquisition program within SPAWAR.

JMAPS’ mission is to produce a star catalog that will enhance military operations both terrestrially and in space by improving the output and accuracy of satellites along with many of the U.S. Military’s strategic weapons systems. JMAPS satisfies emerging requirements to meet future needs for high accuracy sensors and weapons systems by enabling the nation to conduct operations from space that are not technically feasible with current levels of accuracy.

“Space assets and many weapons systems use star catalogs, but the data they use is steadily degrading. By re-baselining the catalog, JMAPS will improve current performance and pave the way for a host of new technologies,” said LCDR Sam Messer, JMAPS program manager, PEO Space Systems.

Whether using imagery to plan precision strikes or monitoring developing storms to assist in humanitarian relief, U.S military forces rely on space as an enabler. Satellites and weapons that contribute across the spectrum of warfare utilize key satellite technologies like star catalogs to ensure their accuracy and position. The end-user ultimately benefits from improvements in the products and capabilities JMAPS provides that are critical to today’s warfighting needs.

A team of space acquisition and technical experts build the spacecraft, develop the ground processing system and manage the program. PEO Space Systems, under the guidance of RDML Liz Young, is continuing to lead and foster the unique partnership established with the United States Naval Research Laboratory and United States Naval Observatory. Both NRL and USNO are experts in their respective fields. NRL has a proud heritage of spacecraft development dating back to 1960 when they launched GRAB I, the nation’s first operational intelligence satellite. USNO traces their renowned history in the fields of timing, navigation and astronomy to the 1830’s. Together, they have assembled the best team of managers, scientists and engineers to execute the JMAPS mission.

“NRL works hand in hand with PEO Space Systems, the program manager and USNO, the principal investigator. The exciting part of this program is that the three organizations all bring complementary capabilities,” said Mr. Paul DeLaHunt, Project Manager for JMAPS, NRL.

NRL’s primary responsibility for the JMAPS program is to construct the satellite that has two major elements designed to support the overall mission of collecting pertinent star data. One element is the design architecture of the spacecraft bus. The second element is the light weight, high performance, and state-of-the-art instrument constructed with silicon carbide power optics, silicon mirrors, and a silicon carbide structure to minimize mass and maximize performance. The instrucment utilizes hybrid complementary metal oxide semiconductor detectors to support the necessary performance and readout capability for JMAPS. The satellite’s configuration while stowed for launch measures approximately 1m in each dimension and weighs approximately 220 kg.

“Without the agility, precision attitude knowledge, precision attitude control and jitter capability created by the tightly coupled spacecraft bus and instrument, the mission would not be possible,” said DeLaHunt.

Upon launching the spacecraft, JMAPS will observe stars for the next 37 months. The data is collected and processed onboard the spacecraft and transmitted to the mission operations center several times a day located at the NRL Blossom Point Tracking Facility.

After the data is collected at Blossom Point, the information is transferred to the US Naval Observatory’s Science Operation Center, located at the USNO-Washington, D.C. facility. The Naval Observatory is responsible to the Department of Defense for the maintenance and upgrade of the nation’s reference frames, including the celestial reference frame. As the data arrives at USNO, mission scientists monitor the instrument, process and analyze the data providing mission planning information back to NRL. The final step in the process is the generation and delivery of the full star catalog to the Navy which occurs one year after the end of the flight mission.

“In addition to the Department of Defense applications for which the mission is being flown, an advanced star catalog and technology will benefit other users including the commercial satellite community and NASA. Potential NASA applications of these new, advanced capabilities include improving the ability to navigate within our solar system and enabling the discovery of planets outside our Solar System,” said Dr. Bryan Dorland, Principal Investigator for JMAPS, USNO.

The newly transitioned ACAT II JMAPS program is focusing on delivering a star catalog that meets the program’s key performance parameters that ultimately align with SPAWAR Commander, Rear Adm. Patrick Brady’s goal of focusing and providing capabilities to the fleet while achieving the Navy’s vision of Information Dominance.

• Date Taken: 12.09.2010
• Date Posted: 12.09.2010 11:39
• Story ID: 61635
• Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, US