Scalable Wide-Field-of-View Electro-Optical Payloads for GEO Space Domain Awareness

Description

The objective of this Phase I effort is to conduct a feasibility study of a commercially derived, Wide-Field-of-View (WFOV) Electro-Optical (EO) payload concept to support persistent Space Domain Awareness (SDA) in the geostationary (GEO) belt. Existing SDA capabilities, such as the joint National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) — United States Space Force (USSF) SILENTBARKER mission, provide a reference point for current approaches to GEO object detection, custody, and indications and warning. This topic seeks to explore commercially derived WFOV EO payload concepts that could inform future enhancements to space-based SDA capabilities beyond the current state of the art. Phase I will evaluate candidate payload architectures and mature Concepts of Operations (CONOPS) for autonomous wide-area GEO search, dynamic tasked collections on priority Resident Space Objects (RSOs), and generation of timely tip-and-cue data suitable for integration with complementary SDA and reconnaissance systems. The feasibility study will assess performance, scalability, and integration considerations associated with commercially derived imaging technologies, with the goal of identifying viable approaches that align with anticipated Space Force SDA mission needs. The outcome of Phase I will be a documented feasibility assessment and a clearly defined roadmap for Phase II prototype development, including recommended payload architectures, key technical risks, and operational considerations.