Harris Corporation's dynamic system simulation tool ArrayLab analyzes communication performance of antenna arrays on dynamically maneuvering spacecraft or celestial bodies. The arrays feature arbitrarily placed and oriented elements in a wide variety of configurations and are controlled using adaptive and model-based algorithms. ArrayLab, written entirely in Mathwork's MATLAB, directly and interactively interfaces with STK for pertinent space-time data needed to analyze multiple simultaneous links. Together, the software programs provide step-by-step communication analysis and visualization throughout the mission scenario. This presentation will concentrate on how the merger of the two tools simplifies communication systems design trades and allows performance to be accessed for the specific orientations and positions of the proposed array as it communicates with the targets of interest.

More comprehensive testing of RF communications hardware is achieved with lower cost and risk by using AGI's STK application to realistically simulate the channel conditions that will be experienced in nature.

RT logic describes how STK is used to control laboratory RF test and measurement equipment to precisely create the received powers, antenna geometry, Doppler shifts, range delay, attenuation, noise, interference and other RF channel characteristics and behaviors experienced in the field. This allows many more test scenarios to be readily evaluated including those that would be impossible, dangerous and/or too expensive to conduct outside the lab. Recent applications to missile test range planning and the design of a satellite crosslink are discussed to demonstrate how higher levels of mission readiness confidence were achieved through this pre-mission, hardware-in-the-loop, full-path testing approach.

The CJMTK Geospatial Appliance (CGA) offers the AGI user community a turnkey solution to the NGA geospatial data needs. The CGA is a bundle of hardware, software and geospatial data that provides out-of-the-box functionality throughout the hosting of application-ready data. This data is hosted via WMS, KML, Rest, Geodatabase or file-sharing access methods. Data includes the entire holdings of the NGA unclassified VPF, DTED and RPF data sets.

General Dynamics Canada and Defence R&D Canada (DRDC) are developing a Mission Planning Tool (MPT) for Canadian Forces maritime operations. The MPT will be used for detailed mission planning and options analysis ahead of deployment; for guiding mission execution in theatre; and for de-briefing post deployment. The MPT will also support training and tactics development. The MPT is based on a service-oriented architecture (SOA) that provides common data-sharing capability for command and control (C2) and allows the system to take advantage of network resources such as environmental or geographic data when available, or to operate independently when connectivity is poor or disrupted. To meet the operational requirement, the MPT also has to have several other demanding capabilities. These include high-performance Geographical Information System (GIS) functionality, the ability to execute external custom models and the ability to simulate and track multiple platforms in the scenario.

CAST Navigation, LLC, used STK Engine to create a 2-D and 3-D modeling and simulation application that tested aircraft missions and included the plane's ability to access GPS satellites. This presentation will describe the challenges presented to CAST by its potential customer and how STK Engine software was critical to creating a solution that exceeded expectations within an aggressive time schedule.

The United States Marine Corps, with the help of AGI, has built and deployed two ruggedized computers in Afghanistan that use STK to assess the success of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and communications planning. Operations currently require a trained analyst, but the Marines are working toward a deployable application for untrained users.

L-3 Integrated Systems, Mission Integration Division, Modeling Simulation and Operations Analysis (MSOA) Group supports analysis, operational, system and design concepts through a robust constructive modeling and simulation environment. Using STK Professional Edition, STK/Coverage, STK/Aircraft Mission Modeler and STK/Communications, the MSOA has added credibility to proposal submissions and shaped early phase program development. This presentation will demonstrate how the MSOA group configures STK to predicted performance, dependency, sensitivity, utility and inefficiency to support existing and future programs.

How much is a pound of ISR worth? What impact does sensor capability have on a military campaign? How does ISR reduce risk in the integrated air and missile defense mission? The answers to these questions, while difficult, are of active interest to Pentagon senior leadership. This presentation will address the complexities of modeling ISR and how Headquarters USAF A9 integrated STK with MATLAB, Ruby and Google Picasa to illuminate the risk inherent in various future ISR acquisition programs. The flexibility, support and visual feedback available in STK enabled a year-long study to be completed in a month—in time to influence the acquisition of a major ISR program.

The System Test and Evaluation Planning Analysis Lab (STEPAL) exists to provide the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Ballistic Missile Defense System with an analytical resource to develop and assess flight test events that demonstrate the system's inherent performance capability. Since its inception in 2002, STEPAL has relied upon STK and other AGI products to examine threat capability, the system's operational characteristics, range safety compliance and engagement parameters to assess how flight tests fit into the operational space. This presentation will discuss key technical capabilities of AGI's software that make it an invaluable tool for STEPAL analysts and how STK contributes directly to the successful execution of the STEPAL mission.

Signature Analytics LLC conducted an 'Automated Weapon-Target Allocation Optimization' study under an MDA SBIR Solicitation topic on Battle Management and Planning Aids. The Solicitation called for "a feasibility study of innovative, advanced and robust weapon target allocation algorithms applicable to missile defense, to extend, enhance, optimize and automate the BMDS battle management and planning capabilities." This presentation discusses how the breadth, flexibility and extensibility of AGI software were leveraged to eliminate much of the time and cost of demonstrating the solution. Custom code was integrated with STK, STK/Analyzer, STK/Scheduler and STK/Missile Modeling Tools into a weapon allocation solution. This allowed Signature Analytics to focus on its expertise, demonstrate a solution in just six months and capture a follow-on contract award.

Operators supporting Air Force Space Command are facing rapidly changing mission objectives. These changes generate new requirements that need to be addressed quickly with limited budgets. Further, operators are frequently expected to perform tasks concerning spacecraft operations for which they are minimally prepared. This challenging environment requires:

• a solution that provides efficient operations with systematic and repeatable processes
• a diverse set of validated algorithms coupled with the use of Air Force Standards software
• a training and educational program designed to prepare the operators for the rigors of spacecraft operations.

This presentation will describe the OPS Tool Set, built on AGI's STK Engine and implemented in an operational environment. It will cover why STK Engine is a key solution for this type of environment and describe a series of training tutorials that have been created to support the operational application.

NASA's Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission was successfully launched on October 19, 2008, and is now exploring the interaction between solar wind and the interstellar medium. Mike served as the trajectory lead for the Flight Dynamics Team that used STK/Astrogator as the sole mission-planning tool and Orbit Determination Tool Kit for orbit determination. The flexibility and power of these tools allowed operators to completely re-plan the mission several times after launch in order to accommodate additional requirements from the science team.

Mike will describe and demonstrate:

• Techniques used in operations to plan the trajectory ascent, accounting for launch and maneuver dispersions.
• Results of maneuver planning and calibration.
• Reconstruction of the launch and solid rocket motor firing.
• Models and algorithms used to plan multiple-maneuver phasing loop ascent.
• How the final mission orbit was achieved.
• How Monte Carlo analysis during operations ensure that the science objectives will be met over the two-year mission lifetime.

STK Professional, Astrogator, and Analyzer were used to design and analyze a dust-cover release attitude for the Kepler spacecraft, with the goal of ensuring safe relative trajectories after the release event. Kepler is a deep space NASA mission intended to find Earth-like planets around other stars. This presentation will cover how the software was employed for mission planning and in real-time operations.

Using a MATLAB script through the STK/Integration Object Model interface, Dr. Griesbach identifies satellite maneuvers and mistags in the satellite catalog database. He will describe how, by using STK to propagate forward a given satellite’s TLE data to the time of the next TLE update, the prior (predicted) and updated positions may be simply differenced. The resulting difference measurements give observations regarding estimating the expected TLE positional error uncertainty. A byproduct of this analysis is that satellite maneuvers exceeding the error uncertainty result in TLE difference spikes. These spikes may be simply thresholded to detect maneuvers, or with a much larger threshold, catalog mistag errors.

The Wallops Research Range is NASA's only launch range. It provides launch support for operational as well as first-of-kind launch vehicles, payloads and technologies. In 2004, the range initiated the STK-based Mission Planning Laboratory (MPL) to assist its operations teams with planning and optimization tasks associated with flight operations support. The effort has been an overwhelming success and has grown beyond its original intent. This presentation will describe how the MPL is used pre-and post-flight to visualize, analyze and optimize mission specifications and how it has aided in the growth of the Wallops range.