The Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR) provides cadets and faculty at the United States Air Force Academy an education and research program in space situational awareness (SSA) using world-class 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.
Data fusion and modeling
MAJOR PROJECTS
Development of the Academy’s global Falcon Telescope Network
Spectral measurements of solar panel glints from geosynchronous satellites
Two-channel polarimetry to determine horizontal/vertical polarization states from un-resolved satellite optical signatures
Long-term photometric observations of inactive geosynchronous satellites for debris monitoring
