Decision Support and Visualization in a Space Situational Awareness C2 Application

As we progress toward a network-centric environment, our dependency upon space assets to meet our force enhancement requirements is expected to grow exponentially. With so many mission assets parked in orbit, it is important for the commander to be operationally aware of the dispositions and movements in this fourth medium. The success of terrestrial forces requires a comprehensive space situational awareness (SSA). 21 Century Systems, Inc. is essentially developing a SSA and decision support client application that, with the proper inputs, will provide an integrated space picture. We call this concept, SituSpace. The visualization uses two and three dimensional depictions to provide the watchstander with rapid, intuitive situational awareness. SituSpace also employs intelligent software agents to provide timely alerts and cogent recommendations. The intelligent agents apply the user’s ROE, situation, resources, etc. to rapidly derive actionable recommendations in order to accelerate the watchstander’s decision loop. The SituSpace concept gains synergy from combining two complementary ideas. Using a metalanguage as the medium of storage and interprocess communication provides for interoperability, flexibility, and multilevel abstraction in the handling and passing of data elements. And a modular publish-subscribe software architecture which supports intelligent agents provides flexibility and tailorability to the SituSpace concept.