Attachment_1-_Statement_of_Objectives.pdf

STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES (SOO)

Space Communications Technologies

15 August 2018

1.0 Program Objectives: Demonstrate and mature an innovative, affordable, and transitionable cognitive radio-frequency (RF) and/or Free Space Optical (FSO) communications payload and associated payload ground control software to ensure ambient, seamless, and resilient communications and networking capabilities in contested and denied operational environments. Specifically, we wish to establish a modular framework for flexible, resilient, and ambient connectivity consisting of: a cooperating set of global network access terminal (GNAT) nodes (e.g., crosslink routers), equipped with a configurable set of modem/terminal subsystems, the associated protocols for discovery, operation, and management, and a testbed supporting live operation, modeling, and analysis of real and virtual GNATs. This effort includes (1) Network modeling, simulation, and analysis, (2) RF communications and cognitive radio, (3) FSO communications, (4) Communications networks and (5) Program Management. The intent of this research is to advance the Technology Readiness Levels (TRL) and document the progress in above areas of exploration as applied to Space Vehicles.

2.0 Background: Communications are fundamental in the conduct of war. It was one of the first missions envisioned for spacecraft, and today the reliance on satellite communications (SATCOM) is only increasing. Yet we still face fundamental problems in trying to provide ambient connectivity to the warfighter: (1) contested environments; (2) crowded spectrum;

(3) difficulty in achieving adequate resilience from cybersecurity threats; (4) complex management of communications; (5) communication security and reduced probability of intercept/detection; and (6) seamlessness. The future space communications area pursues the notion of ambient and seamless connectivity through satellite communications research involving FSO links and networks that include such links.

3.0 Contract Objectives: Utilize best industry standards and processes to the greatest extent possible in the design, fabrication, integration, and testing of a cognitive RF and/or FSO communications platform and associated payload ground control software to achieve the most affordable cost to the government. Increase the use of prototyping and experimentation.

Prototyping provides Warfighters with the opportunity to explore novel operational concepts, supports key elements of the industrial base, and hedges against threat developments or surprises by advancing technology and reducing the lead time to develop and field new capabilities. Experimentation puts prototypes into the Warfighter’s hands for assessment in an operational context

3.1 Deliverables: The government does not anticipate specific deliverables from the offeror, however we do anticipate to receive all residuals at the end of the contract period of performance delivered to: Attn: Dr. James C. Lyke, 3550 Aberdeen Ave SE, Kirtland AFB NM, 87117.

4.0 Engineering Objectives: There are several specific development thrusts that need to be addressed in the proposal. Proposals shall address one or more areas. It is expected new developments would build upon existing cognitive RF and/or FSO communication research and efforts as well as identify the proposed improvements over existing cognitive RF and/or FSO communication technologies. New developments would then be integrated into existing testbeds and/or spacecraft. Areas to be addressed include:

4.1 Space-based Communications Networks & Spacecraft network modeling, simulation, and analysis:

This topic area focuses on the development of resilient and software-defined networks that are realized as overlays on robust self-forming networks. We have also found deficiencies in traffic models, mostly that they either do not exist or are so crude as to provide limited effective understanding, especially in the temporal nature of communications in both conflict and peacetime scenarios. We seek proposals in the following subareas of interest:

4.1.1 Network-aware data architectures: An architecture / framework for creating and managing distributed applications that “understand” overlays and that are discoverable to users.

4.1.2 Network-aware subsystems and communications devices: We are interested in the protocols not just of a network itself, but how that network (both substrate and overlay) is managed and provisioned, as well as the hardware and software approaches necessary to make practical an embedded modular facility that could be hosted on dedicated spacecraft, hosted payloads, or more ambitiously as a compact appliance analogous to a “smart phone” (though not the consumerized models). The facility should be based on the combination of an aggregating router hub, a host connection, and connections for one or more transceivers (RF and / or optical).

4.1.3 Advanced network technologies: Development and improvements in disruption tolerant networks, path-agnostic transport, content-aware routing, network/fountain/erasure coding, hooks for improved security and tamper/hack resistance, and other concepts.

4.1.4 Router and advanced network components: Development of flexible, scalable, routers and support processing / storage components capable of effectively operating in space radiation environment. Employ concepts such as open V-switch (OVS) to insure programmability and flexibility to support on-orbit experimentation and update with improved routing and security protocols. Components, protocols, and effective strategies for cyber-resiliency and security.

4.1.5 Spacecraft network modeling, simulation, and analysis: address traffic modeling, multi-spacecraft network modeling, and provisions to support distribution and real-time simulation support, along with analysis/visualization tools. Ease of use, supportability, and flexibility are fundamental to the efficacy of this topic area. We expect to be able to conduct a wide variety of supply and demand trades, in which we might pit different satellite network concepts (large switchboard-like satellites compared to randomized swarms of massively proliferated tiny satellites and many other possibility between these extremes) and policies against each other (e.g., delay-tolerant networks, software defined networks, named data networks, realizing these are not themselves in competition with each other). Ideally, the modeling tools we seek are either so simple as to permit non-experts to prepare, execute, analyze the results or would be simple to populate a laboratory that can be staffed with part-time experts and have well-defined support plans.

4.2 Space-Based Communications Networks: This topic area focuses on the development of resilient and software-defined networks that are realized as overlays on robust self-forming networks. We seek proposals in the following subareas of interest:

4.2.1 Network-aware data architectures: An architecture / framework for creating and managing distributed applications that “understand” overlays and that are discoverable to users.

4.2.2 Network-aware subsystems and communications devices: We are interested in the protocols not just of a network itself, but how that network (both substrate and overlay) is managed and provisioned, as well as the hardware and software approaches necessary to make practical an embedded modular facility that could be hosted on dedicated spacecraft, hosted payloads, or more ambitiously as a compact appliance analogous to a “smart phone” (though not the consumerized models). The facility should be based on the combination of an aggregating router hub, a host connection, and connections for one or more transceivers (RF and / or optical).

4.2.3 Advanced network technologies: Development and improvements in disruption tolerant networks, path-agnostic transport, content-aware routing, network/fountain/erasure coding, hooks for improved security and tamper/hack resistance, and other concepts.

4.2.4 Router and advanced network components: Development of flexible, scalable, routers and support processing / storage components capable of effectively operating in space radiation environment. Employ concepts such as open V-switch (OVS) to insure programmability and flexibility to support on-orbit experimentation and update with improved routing and security protocols. Components, protocols, and effective strategies for cyber-resiliency and security.

4.3 RF Communications / Cognitive Radio: We are seeking proposals for approaches in components, waveforms, protocols, modems/subsystems, and associated architectural possibilities (e.g., reconfigurable, modular, scalable, adaptive, and cognitive). We are concerned over improvement in bandwidth/spectrum efficiency, resiliency, agility/flexibility, low probability of interception/detection, security, and immunity to cybersecurity attack. In the cases where hardware is involved, we are concerned with size, weight, and power overhead reduction, improved efficiency in amplifiers, improved sensitivity in receivers, and improved signal integrity/fidelity in the signal chain. One of the more important deficiencies we seek to address is the lack of adequate frameworks for managing re-configurability, specifically the structure of effective cognitive engines. We expect the degrees of freedom allowed by re-configurability must be standardized to permit adaptive concepts to work with several different types of software/cognitive radios.

4.4 Free-Space Optical Communications: This topic areas focuses on improvements in space-based communications involving the optical channel. We are seeking proposals for approaches in waveforms, protocols, and associated architectural possibilities (e.g.

reconfigurable, modular, scalable, adaptive, and cognitive). As in the case of RF, we are concerned with use cases where one or both sides of the communications occurs in space. Applications include inter-satellite communications, satellite command and control, space-based tag tracking, communications backhauls, and other possibilities.

We are concerned over improvement in bandwidth/spectrum efficiency, resiliency, agility/flexibility, low probability of interception/detection, security, and immunity to cybersecurity attack. In the cases where hardware is involved, we are concerned with size, weight, and power overhead reduction, improved efficiency in amplifiers, improved sensitivity in receivers, and improved signal integrity/fidelity in the signal chain.

The main focus of proposals should be concentrated on several important use cases, which include:

4.4.1 Aggressively low size, weight, power, and cost for laser terminals having very long range (40,000 to 70,000 kilometers), modest data rates (< 50Mbps), radiation tolerance, with independently positional control within a large field of regard.

4.4.2 Higher data rates (up to 10 Gbps or higher) for space-to-space and space-to-ground.

4.4.3 Flexible, reconfigurable optical transceivers, modems, terminals capable of configurable / adaptive modulation, tunable/selectable wavelengths (e.g.

over the ITU C-band grid)

4.4.4 Other useful features to facilitate transport of one or more digital, analog, or microwave signals to include timing transfer Routers that support these features and permit the aggregation of multiple optical and/or radio-frequency terminals

5.0 Program Management Objectives: Allow the offeror the maximum flexibility to innovatively manage the program schedule, performance, risks, subcontracts and data to provide a payload and associated payload ground control software that satisfies the Government’s objectives. Manage, control, and approve all work performed to accomplish the program objectives. Implement administrative, financial management and task planning functions to ensure the on-time, on-budget accomplishment of all program objectives. Plan, develop, manage, and review the design assurance, quality assurance, and configuration management activities. Implement and manage the security processes necessary to protect program material.