CubeSat with VSWIR Imager for Detection and Tracking of Hypersonic Vehicles

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA), and more recently the United States Space Force (USSF), have been prepared to defend against Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs) and Submarine Launched Ballistic Missiles (SLBMs); however, hypersonic vehicles are an emerging threat with properties that make them difficult to counter with current technologies. Hypersonic vehicles create a much smaller thermal bloom which is not easily detectable by Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites. Hypersonic missiles do not necessarily have a ballistic trajectory and can cruise and maneuver at altitudes between 30 and 100 km. This hides the vehicle’s approach from Upgraded Early Warning Radar (UEWR) behind the curvature of the Earth. Space based sensors offer the greatest capability to detect hypersonic vehicles early enough to intercept them. However, current DSP satellites are not capable of detecting hypersonic vehicles reliably due to their geostationary orbit and outdated sensor technology. A Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite constellation is required to detect, track, and intercept hypersonic vehicles in their cruise or terminal phases. The CubeSat form factor is an attractive option and can be developed in a shorter time frame with lower Size, Weight, and Power (SWaP) and deployment costs when compared to larger DSP satellites or upgrading ground detection systems such as UEWR. CubeSats will also support further development of Northrop Grumman’s Hypersonic and Ballistic Tracking Space Sensors (HBTSS) by providing “a unique (space) testing capability never before available”. The purpose of the proposed research is to design and deploy a single CubeSat to detect and track hypersonic vehicles. The system is a single 12U CubeSat with a Visible to Short Wave Infrared (VSWIR) camera as its primary scientific payload. This single satellite will be used as proof of concept to demonstrate detection and tracking capabilities. Future missions will focus on implementing a network of satellites to track multiple targets simultaneously to develop a system that provides broader, real-time coverage. Preliminary research determined that an Infrared (IR) imager would be the most effective method for detecting a hypersonic vehicle. Hypersonic vehicles emit light in the wavelength range of 0.4-2.1 micrometers. This range is calculated using Wien’s Law and known hypersonic vehicle temperature data. This range includes visual, Near Infrared (NIR), and Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) wavelengths. VSWIR imagers meet these requirements as they have a spectral range of 0.4 to 2.5 micrometers. VSWIR imagers can also identify the IR signature of missile launches in varying weather conditions, as well as during eclipse periods.