Date of Award

3-2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Department

Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

First Advisor

Robert A. Bettinger, PhD

Abstract

The exploration of the lunar and cislunar realm is becoming increasingly active as several entities, private and public, foreign and domestic, set their sights beyond traditional Earth-centered space operations. Along with this renewed activity is a growing need for comprehensive Space Situational Awareness (SSA) and Space Traffic Management (STM) in the inherently chaotic cislunar system. This thesis seeks to embolden the study of cislunar SSA by considering the lunar-surface as a platform from which to conduct optical SSA. In this thesis, a lunar-based SSA system is heuristically optimized via a genetic algorithm through three separate implementations. All surface locations considered for sensor placement are derived from consideration of the lunar surface as a topological body, using NASA LOLA data and JAXA Kaguya stereo-imagery. The three implementations of the genetic algorithm optimize an SSA system based on stationary targets arranged in an equidistant set, an orbit family set and a combined equidistant and orbit family set. The results of this research show that a system comprised of small number of sensors with large fields of view is adequate to view specific out of plane orbits, but ultimately struggle to cover large swaths of the cislunar region. Any observation about the Earth-Moon equatorial plane will be greatly challenged both by the brightness of the Earth and the Sun. Although smaller sensor fields of view cover less area, they proved advantageous at avoiding exclusion zones. Additionally, the heuristic optimization of an SSA system in this fashion is responsive to the solar environment and can recognize and take advantage of obvious optimal placements even with a relatively simple algorithm.

AFIT Designator

AFIT-ENY-MS-24-M-207

Comments

A 12-month embargo was observed for posting this work on AFIT Scholar.

Distribution Statement A, Approved for Public Release. PA case number on file.

Related organizations and units for this Masters thesis:

  • Center for Space Research and Assurance (CSRA) at AFIT
  • Space Vehicles Directorate, Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL/RV)

Additional Files
4. SF 298 - Spesard.pdf (320 kB)
SF298 for AFIT-ENY-MS-24-M-207 - Spesard, C
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