The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), in partnership with the U.S. Space Forces-Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC) and the Space Domain Awareness (SDA) Tools, Applications, & Processing (TAP) Lab and support from India’s Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), are executing a prize challenge focused on detecting and tracking satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) in contested environments.
This event seeks to identify companies capable of developing algorithms to dynamically track satellites attempting to evade detection in near real-time over the INDOPACOM area of responsibility. The bilateral challenge will culminate in a virtual pitch event in February 2025 and is part of the INDUS-X initiative to continue to vitalize the U.S.-India defense industrial cooperation.
A team of subject matter experts will evaluate applicants and select up to 10 companies as finalists for participation in the virtual Pitch Day in February 2025. A total of $150,000 in awards will be distributed among the top-performing company or companies selected from the pool of finalists.
Problem Statement
As competitors and adversaries proliferate LEO with military force enhancements and weapon systems, it is in the best interest of U.S. INDOPACOM and allies/partners to quickly detect, track and identify these satellites. We assume competitors and adversaries will attempt to stifle our efforts to maintain custody of these satellites by implementing some form of camouflage, concealment, deception, or maneuver. In a contested environment, we will need to rapidly search for and track objects which are attempting to evade detection and tracking. Failure to rapidly reacquire threats on-orbit leaves us vulnerable to attack. Given this context, develop an algorithm to dynamically detect and track satellites in LEO transiting over the INDOPACOM area of responsibility (AOR) which may have recently maneuvered.
Context:
The challenge is to rapidly reacquire maneuvering satellites that may be attempting to evade detection within a contested space environment.
A static dataset will be provided in single bulk electronic delivery. This static dataset may contain more data than would be typically feasible to access via an application program interface (API). Companies can use this static data for algorithm experimentation.
An API will also be provided to allow companies to query for near-real time data with both temporal and spatial filters.
The data for this challenge aggregates data from a large and expanding constellation of remote sensing satellites designed to measure and predict space and terrestrial weather. This data includes neutral air density (100-1000 km) and concurrent ionospheric ion density fields in a global 4-D grid volume with approximately 100 km horizontal and 10 km vertical spacing, as well as wind conditions, air chemistry, and solar effects.
This data updates every 5-10 minutes.
Disclaimer:
This dataset is made available under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) Public Domain Dedication as determined by National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). Parties to this activity may freely build upon, enhance and reuse this data under these terms, https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/legalcode.
The SDA TAP Lab and affiliated U.S. companies do not create this data but instead provide an aggregation and access service for the convenience of companies participating in this activity.
Companies can access this data without needing to use SDA TAP Lab services.
Use at your own risk. Access to this data and the aggregation services provided by the SDA TAP Lab does not guarantee the performance of any algorithm developed by third parties.
Technical Specifications & Guidelines:
This algorithm should:
Provide high-quality state vectors (i.e., position, velocity, uncertainty information) or orbits (two-line element sets) when forecasted or propagated (a short duration) into the future.
Deliver near real-time tracking solutions, utilizing common interface standards (e.g., RESTful APIs), enabling quick reacquisition of targets.
Prioritize high-quality tracking solutions for satellites transiting over INDOPACOM AOR.
Degradation of tracking solution quality beyond the AOR is acceptable, as the focus is on high-quality solutions within the AOR.
Awards:- $150,000
Deadline:- 10-01-2025
