Dual Horizons: U.S.-India Satellite Tracking Challenge
Andy Tennant
Connecting Innovators in Academia and Industry with the Department of Defense | DIU | West Virginia | Pittsburgh | Community Leader | Veteran
Application Close Date: January 9, 2025
Application Portal: Dual Horizons: U.S. - India Satellite Tracking Challenge
Challenge Information: Dual Horizons: U.S.-India Satellite Tracking Challenge | National Security Innovation Network
Identify technologies to detect and track satellites in low earth orbit (LEO) in contested environments for up to $150,000 in awards.
Overview
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) (DIU), in partnership with the United States Space Force Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC) and the SDA TAP Lab 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:
Disclaimer:
Key Dates
Benefits of Participating
Eligibility
*Companies from NATO, Five Eyes Alliance, USMCA, and TPP countries are eligible to participate in a team provided that the team is comprised of a U.S. owned and operated company and/or India owned and operated company.
Judging Criteria
Applications and Pitches for both problem statements will be judged on five criteria:
Technical Specifications & Guidelines:
This algorithm should:
Examples of the data products performers are expected to output from their algorithms:
Two Line Element Set (TLE)
ISS (ZARYA)
1 25544U 98067A 08264.51782528 -.00002182 00000-0 -11606-4 0 2927
2 25544 51.6416 247.4627 0006703 130.5360 325.0288 15.72125391563537
State Vector - NOTE: the format (JSON, XML, etc.) is less important than the fields and their contents.
{
"idStateVector": "UUID here",
"classificationMarking": "U",
"epoch": "2024-09-03T13:03:17.950762Z",
"satNo": 44910,
"xpos": -13133.1870962898,
"ypos": -40045.0187610066,
"zpos": 502.588021546376,
"xvel": 2.91624005568491,
"yvel": -0.961924074064296,
"zvel": -0.177890037806959,
"referenceFrame": "ECEF",
"cov": [0.00729549558474623, 0.00276875943249917, 0.00671042161197506, -0.000778335176945945, -0.000428862067398075, 0.000516095209600449, 4.09946871831617e-7, 4.49949094300698e-7, -5.09718923561193e-8, 4.04044470880795e-11, 3.37086581144848e-7, -3.37538072951818e-8, -3.044256553365e-8, 1.38398294864384e-11, 4.73259243654422e-11, -1.2994733501573e-8, -1.65967035931523e-8, 4.46137718209972e-9, -8.96177142784708e-13, -1.00696882363484e-12, 1.11863064465915e-11],
"posUnc": 0.0993342119518519,
"velUnc": 0.000007626903759373,
"solarRadPressCoeff": 0,
"dragCoeff": 0,
"source": "Company Name Here",
"dataMode": "REAL",
"createdAt": "2024-09-03T14:11:08.511Z",
},
End-User: U. S. DoD
Ask Me Anything Session:
Participants will have the unique opportunity to ask questions and engage directly with the DoD Mission Partner regarding the challenge during the AMA session on December 4, 2024. This interaction will provide clarity on technical requirements, eligibility, criteria, challenge mechanics, and administrative processes. Engaging in the AMA fosters a deeper understanding of the challenge’s objectives, allowing participants to tailor their submissions effectively.
You can also submit questions at any time to [email protected] .
White Paper Submission Requirements:
Teams will submit a written notional concept of operations (CONOPS) of their solution, including methods and system information and an annotated graphic/schematic illustrating the CONOPS. Example outputs from the algorithm should also be provided, along with any additional information demonstrating the capability of your solution. White papers should adhere to the following format requirements:
Pitch Deck Submission Requirements:
Teams will submit a pitch deck outlining their technology capabilities that addresses the features listed above. Pitch decks should meet the following format requirements:
Submit Now
Participants must submit solutions for the Dual Horizons: U.S.-India Satellite Tracking Challenge via the link below.
Questions
Please direct your questions to [email protected] .
U.S. Space Forces – Indo-Pacific (USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC) is permanently assigned as the U.S. Space Force (USSF) Service component to USINDOPACOM. USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC plans, integrates, synchronizes, and executes command and control of space operations in support of combatant command priorities and objectives and is the lead/supported command for joint space theater integration, joint space target development, space domain awareness, and space-focused security cooperation in accordance with the USINDOPACOM Campaign Plan and in coordination with Department of Air Force (DAF), USSF, and U.S. Space Command (USSPACECOM) security cooperation strategies. With allies and partners, USSPACEFOR-INDOPAC enhances stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting interoperability and integration from planning and programming through fielding and execution to respond to contingencies, deter aggression, and maintain space superiority in pursuit of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
The Space Domain Awareness Tools, Applications, & Processing Lab (SDA TAP Lab) accelerates the delivery of space battle management software to operational units. SDA TAP Lab decomposes kill chains, prioritizes needs with operators, maps needs to technologies, and onboards technologies to existing platforms quickly. They partner with industry, academia, and across the government to succeed.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is a flagship initiative by the Government of India, to foster innovation and enhance collaboration between the defence sector and the startup ecosystem. By engaging startups, MSMEs, and individual innovators, iDEX aims to deliver technologically advanced solutions to modernize the Indian Armed Forces. iDEX offers grants of up to INR 25 crore (～ $3 million), and other support for R&D/rapid prototype development, facilitating the future adoption of cutting-edge technologies in Indian defence and aerospace. Over the years, iDEX has emerged as a key pathway for procurement, empowering Indian defence startups and MSMEs to contribute to national security.
The Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) strengthens national security by accelerating the adoption of commercial technology in the Department of Defense and bolstering our allied and national security innovation bases. DIU partners with organizations across the DoD to rapidly prototype and field dual-use capabilities that solve operational challenges at speed and scale. With offices in Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin, Chicago and Washington, DC, DIU is the Department’s gateway to leading technology companies across the country.
NSIN is a component of the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) program office. We are set up to collaborate with a wide variety of innovators to include universities, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and start-ups. We create opportunities for collaboration across communities and connect those that might not traditionally work in national security. Together, we help drive national security innovation and develop technologies that directly support the individuals responsible for protecting our country.
For more information or interview requests with Team NSIN, please contact us at [email protected] .
Intellectual Property Considerations: Applicants retain ownership of existing Intellectual Property (IP) submitted under this Challenge and agree that their submissions are their original work. Applicants are presumed to have sufficient rights to submit the submission. For any submission made to the Challenge, you grant DIU a limited license to use this IP for testing and evaluation for efforts specifically related to the Challenge. DIU will negotiate with individual competitors in the event additional usage, integration, or development is contemplated.
Other Transaction Authority: This DIU Challenge public announcement is an open call to small businesses and non-traditional defense contractors seeking innovative, commercial technologies proposed to create new DoD solutions or potential new capabilities fulfilling requirements, closing capability gaps, or providing potential technological advancements, technologies fueled by commercial or strategic investment, but also concept demonstrations, pilots, and agile development activities improving commercial technologies, existing Government-owned capabilities, or concepts for broad Defense application(s). As such, the Government reserves the right to award a contract or an Other Transaction for any purpose, to include a prototype or research, under this public announcement. The Federal Government is not responsible for any monies expended by the applicant before award and is under no obligation to pursue such Other Transactions.
Satisfying Competition Requirements: This DIU Challenge Open Call Announcement is considered to have potential for further efforts that may be accomplished via FAR-based contracting instruments, Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for Prototype Projects 10 USC 4022 and Research 10 USC 4021, and/or Prizes for advanced technology achievements 10 USC 4025. The public open call announcement made on the NSIN website is considered to satisfy the reasonable effort to obtain competition in accordance with 10 USC 4025(b) and 10 USC 4022 (b)(2). Accordingly, FAR-based actions will follow announcement procedures per FAR 5.201(b).
The Defense Innovation Unit and the National Security Innovation Network reserve the right to cancel, suspend, and/or modify the Challenge, or any part of it, for any reason, at the Defense Innovation Unit and the National Security Innovation Network’s sole discretion.
Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) NSIN - National Security Innovation Network #Communication #Data #Fiber #Network #Classifiedsystems #Classification