Space Object Understanding and Reconnaissance
of Complex Events (SOURCE)

A U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space University Research Initiative (SURI)

About the Project

Outer space is increasingly filled with satellites, no-longer working satellites, launch rockets, debris from launching satellites and some materials of space like meteorites. Many are too small for the network of radar stations, telescopes and even other satellites to spot. That can lead to debris or micro-meteorites damaging satellites or even threatening the International Space Station.

Space domain awareness (SDA) describes the knowledge and real-time understanding of these objects. The United States must overcome many technological challenges to achieve SDA dominance in the geostationary (GEO) region. The space beyond Earth's orbit - known as XGEO or cislunar space - is even more difficult to navigate. Fortunately, University at Buffalo researchers are up for the challenge.

A research team led by Moises Sudit and John Crassidis has received a $5 million grant to improve our ability to track and monitor this growing collection of space debris.

Satellites and objects orbiting earth with a network overlay.

The Space Object Understanding and Reconnaissance of Complex Events (SOURCE) project is part of a newly established Space University Research Initiative (SURI) program that was created to spur university research into new technologies for the Air Force and U.S. Space Force (USSF).

The grant will focus on developing cutting-edge techniques for sensors and measurement strategies, data fusion and autonomy, as well as improving algorithms to better predict the movements of objects in space.

Funding Source: A U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space University Research Initiative (SURI)
Award Amount: $5 Million
Related Departments:

Principle Investigators

Related News

A piece of space junk the size of a school bus is barreling straight toward the moon
11/3/22
The Hoops News quoted John Crassidis, SUNY Distinguished Professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering and director of the Center for Space Cyber Strategy and Cyber Security, in a story about a piece of space junk that is going to crash into the moon.
Space adverts are now economically viable but potentially dangerous
10/7/22
New Scientist reports that constellations of satellites that reflect sunlight to Earth could be used for space advertising at a cost of $65 million per mission.
UB Professor, students assist U.S. Air Force Focus on space debris dangers
8/31/22
WGRZ-TV featured John Crassidis, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Samuel P. Capen Chair Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, in a report on the proliferation of satellites, debris and other material in space near Earth.
A piece of space junk the size of a school bus is barreling straight toward the moon
2/3/22
John Crassidis, SUNY Distinguished Professor and Samuel P. Capen Chair Professor in the UB Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, spoke to NPR about a school bus-sized piece of a rocket that’s hurtling toward the moon.

Meet the Researchers

The project’s multidisciplinary team of investigators includes renowned researchers from the University at Buffalo, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Penn State University, Georgia Tech, and Purdue University. The team combines experts in cislunar astrodynamics, multi-modal sensing architectures, advanced data association algorithms, position and orientation estimation techniques, uncertainty quantification, RSO attribute estimation through characterization, dynamic sensing, catalog design, and autonomous decision-making element.

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Last Modified December 12, 2022

Space Object Understanding and Reconnaissance of Complex Events (SOURCE)