SBIR-STTR Award

Much effort has been put into building space vehicles on a more responsive timeline by leveraging common interfaces and taking advantage of middleware for configuration and operation.  While the core spacecraft have been getting smarter, we still have one major problem the space communications link.  One well-used example of this problem is the secure Space Ground Link System (SGLS) link which was designed in a pre-OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) reference model  era.  As such, secure SGLS accommodates a ground to space vehicle connection with no considerations for more advanced architectures.  Modern communications protocols have evolved to a more structured approach to communications that essentially defining barriers (interfaces) between OSI layers and turning links into transport layers capable of much more than a finite number of commands.  This approach was a catalyst for a vast number of new applications.  The goal of this project is to propose an evolutionary path from the current space communications architecture to a network based architecture using Internet Protocol, which maintains DoD class security, but opens up the possibilities for advanced mission concepts.  

Benefit:
The Phase 1 effort provides the foundation for the development and implementation of a space communications testbed for Space Plug-n-Play Avionics (SPA) and related technology.  An IP transport will exist that can be used over legacy space communications infrastructure (e.g., AFSCN, TDRSS, NASA GN) that will extend the existing SPA/XTEDS on-vehicle communications to the ground network.  Furthermore, the Phase 1 effort will advance Innoflight''''s IP-in-Space expertise and communication hardware designs into the plug-n-play realm making them available as commercial products for future rapidly deployed spacecraft and responsive space missions.  These missions will now be equipped with the technology to greatly enhance their space communications segments made possible by IP networking and protocols.

Keywords:
Internet Protocol, Space Networking, Plug-N-Play, Advanced Secure Communications, Spa, Communications Testbed, Afscn, Sgls

The proposed effort will design, build, and demonstrate a revolutionary and long overdue advancement to space communications. Through the use of native IP, Innoflight will introduce seamless networked communications through space vehicle links, ground stations, the mission operations center and end users. Our proposed solution includes a powerful link encoder, IP/HDLC, Type 1 HAIPE encryption, Gbps speeds and a routing function – all implemented on a single space vehicle subsystem appliance. This effort will transform multiple spacecraft into networked vehicles which have high performance, secure, networkable communications to each other and through to the ground segment user. Our efforts will advance the transformation of tactical spacecraft by supporting net-centric operations and rapid integration of PnP spacecraft consistent with the satellite data model approach. It will also unleash the capability to host and serve many applications on one vehicle consistent with modern systems. Last, it will enable mission designers to operate over any IP network (Internet, SIPRNet, Classified WANs) as a black core without the need for specialized dedicated, bandwidth sensitive transport infrastructure.

Benefit:
Anticipated benefits of the SBIR Phase II include: 1) Seamless space networked communications (end-to-end) with HAIPE security, 2) Lower cost mission operations, ground stations and communications infrastructure, 3) Rapid spacecraft development and integration, 4) DoD Type 1 plug-n-play enabled space and ground appliances for operations over a black core 4) Multi-protocol spacecraft applications, and 5) The use of established IP networks for distributed net-centric operations. The customers for this technology include every branch of the military (and their supporting research and development agencies and institutions) since each one provides systems or relies on systems that communicate from space. To increase the market size, our technology extends very well to UAV systems as they require high reliability, highly autonomous communication links along with network centric operations within the theater and from space. A UAV can simply be enabled as a node in a secure network (similar to the remote tracking station) and be equipped with the communications appliance to receive critical data or information from a satellite above. The fact that our proposed technology is founded on open standards and plug-n-play will open our commercialization capabilities significantly as numerous DoD agencies and NASA ARC are looking to AFRL’s SPA efforts to drive down the cost and increase the responsiveness of space missions. Our primary target is the DoD small satellite (most notably, CubeSats) and Operationally Responsive Space (e.g., TACSAT) market which includes research, development and demonstration programs from DARPA, MDA, AFRL, SMC, and NRO. CubeSats have a lot to gain from this technology due to the fact that a cluster, swarm or tight formation of CubeSats is basically mandatory in order to qualify as a significant DoD mission. It is expected that these CubeSats form a network to enable sensor collaboration, autonomous reconfiguration, shared computing and a host of other capabilities enabled in a network centric architecture. Similarly, DARPA''s F6 program will gain from this technology. The emergence of these missions and ORS’s staunch support of open standards and plug-n-play indicates the awareness that National Security objectives can be met through low-earth orbiting small spacecraft and more responsive missions. NASA''s Constellation Program, is another prominent customer for this technology especially the ability to establish robust long distance networking capabilities for lunar systems including the implementation of IPsec – potentially with the need for NSA certified HAIPE solutions. Last, but certainly not least when it comes to commercialization potential, future net-centric space secure communications demonstrate a significant and emerging demand for a Type 1 IP-based space solution. The space communicatons network of 2020 will rely on IP-based HAIPE enabled systems much like the ones that Innoflight proposes to demonstrate in this effort.

Keywords:
Internet Protocol (Ip), Space Communications, High Assurance Internet Protocol Encryption (Haipe), Ipsec, Satellite Data Model (Sdm), Qos, Encryption, Networking Appliance