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Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR)

The amount of space debris in Earth's orbit.

The Center for Space Situational Awareness Research provides cadets and faculty at the United States Air Force Academy an education and research program in space situational awareness (SSA) using worldclass facilities and capabilities.

CORE COMPETENCIES
  • Small aperture optical telescopes for satellite characterization
  • Non-imaging photometric, spectral and polarimetric techniques for characterization of un-resolved space objects.
MAJOR PROJECTS
  • Modeling of upper stage rocket bodies to determine spin state in support of space debris removal technologies
  • Development of satellite spectral signatures for analysis using machine learning techniques
  • Comparison of polarized signatures using an event-based camera and a traditional CMOS camera
  • Upgrade and calibration of the Academy’s global Falcon Telescope Network and 1-meter telescope
  • Spectral polarimetry measurements of geosynchronous satellites
  • Determine circular polarization states from unresolved satellite optical signatures
Contact Us

Dr. Francis Chun
(719) 333-2601
francis.chun@afacademy.af.edu