System of Systems Architecture: The Case of Space Situational Awareness

Abstract

The presence of space situational awareness is one approach to mitigating the long-term risks associated with space debris in low Earth orbit (LEO). As the U.S. and other nations continue to develop the space situational awareness mission area, questions arise as to how stakeholders should act to mitigate the effects of resident space objects and how our understanding of the physics of LEO inform the evolution of ground- and space-based sensors. To characterize interactions among international stakeholders, space situational awareness is modeled as a system of systems with technical and social elements. Through the use of game-theoretic cooperation archetypes and System Dynamics modeling, possible futures are explored. Extensions in space situational awareness capabilities are modeled as mechanisms to improve satellite survivability. Finally, general implications for system architecture and systems of systems are elucidated. I.