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iSpace (Intelligent Space)

Apr 8, 2021

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iSpace (Intelligent Space)

Applications and Events     References

Lockheed Martin’s iSpace solution provides space and capabilities through observations from commercial and/or government optical, radar, and RF sensors monitoring space objects. iSpace is the result of Lockheed Martin’s corporate investment and dedicated presence over multiple decades supporting legacy, current and future space situational awareness and space command and control implementations. 1)

iSpace Use

iSpace is fielded operationally on multiple programs and used by numerous customers for activities/exercises such as:

• Space Fence Mission System Infrastructure

• National Space Defense Center (NSDC), Commercial Sensors Contract

• AFRL JEON Space BMC2 Contract

• USSTRATCOM Global Sentinel 2017-2019

• Australian JP9350 SSA Demonstrator

• Enterprise Space Battle Management, Command & Control (ESBMC2)

iSpace provides Substantial Capabilities and Continues to Rapidly Expand

Figure 1: SSA (Space Situational Awareness) Command, Control & Battle Management (image credit: Lockheed Martin)
Figure 1: SSA (Space Situational Awareness) Command, Control & Battle Management (image credit: Lockheed Martin)
Figure 2: Key features of iSpace (image credit: Lockheed Martin)
Figure 2: Key features of iSpace (image credit: Lockheed Martin)



 

Applications and Events of the iSpace System for Space Situational Awareness

• April 6, 2021: To obtain real-time awareness of the more than 300,000 objects orbiting the earth, the German Space Agency at DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt / German Aerospace Center) has selected Lockheed Martin’s iSpaceTM command and control system. The iSpace system tracks thousands of objects orbiting the earth by collecting data from a worldwide network of government, commercial and scientific community surveillance sensors. 2)

Figure 3: iSpace tracks thousands of space objects to allow users to characterize, recognize and respond appropriately to space events (image credit: Lockheed Martin iSpace)
Figure 3: iSpace tracks thousands of space objects to allow users to characterize, recognize and respond appropriately to space events (image credit: Lockheed Martin iSpace)

- DLR is the national space agency for the Federal Republic of Germany and operates the German Space Situational Awareness Center (GSSAC) together with the German Air Force. iSpace is the newest upgrade of the experimental mission system and will interface to German sensors to include the Tracking and Imaging Radar, GSSAC Optical Sensor and German Experimental Surveillance and Tracking Radar. iSpace will be used to task German sensors to support monitoring of high interest objects and space events.

- “No other system offers real-time catalog maintenance, space event processing, and sensor tasking in a highly scalable processing infrastructure for such a variety of sensors,” said Amr Hussein, vice president, Lockheed Martin C4ISR Systems. “For those looking to enhance their space command and control capabilities, iSpace is a compelling solution as it can be rapidly deployed and dynamically configured to meet individual customer mission needs.”

- The iSpace system provides real-time awareness on what is happening in space (e.g., collisions, maneuvers, break-ups, launches), alerts operators of anomalies, and suggests recommended courses of action. For more information about iSpace licensing, click here.

- Operationally fielded since 2017, Lockheed Martin leveraged its 50-plus year legacy in space command and control systems to develop iSpace. This heritage includes the first satellite detection and tracking system that used a network of space-probing cameras and radar to predict satellite behavior in the 1960s.

- iSpace has supported several U.S. Strategic Command Global Sentinel exercises, which provide an international forum to broaden mutual understanding to enhance space cooperation. iSpace is also integrated with other Lockheed Martin capabilities to provide end-to-end space protection solutions for our customers. For example:

a) Components of iSpace serve as a space situational awareness and sensor planning system for battle management applications to ensure the survivability and continuity of U.S. space systems.

b) Our iSpace expertise was leveraged when Lockheed Martin developed the space situational awareness mission subsystem for the U.S. Air Force’s Space Fence, which provides detection, tracking and accurate measurement of space objects, including satellites and orbital debris, primarily in low-earth orbit.



References

1) ”iSpace brochure,” Lockheed Martin Corporation, 2019, URL: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed-martin/rms/photo/ispace/ispace-brochure.pdf

2) ”German Space Agency Selects Lockheed Martin iSpace System for Space Situational Awareness,” Lockheed Martin, 6 April 2021, URL: https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2021-4-6-German-Space-Agency-
Selects-Lockheed-Martin-iSpace-System-for-Space-Situational-Awareness

 


The information compiled and edited in this article was provided by Herbert J. Kramer from his documentation of: ”Observation of the Earth and Its Environment: Survey of Missions and Sensors” (Springer Verlag) as well as many other sources after the publication of the 4th edition in 2002. - Comments and corrections to this article are always welcome for further updates (eoportal@symbios.space).

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