1. SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
Brian Swinburne, Space Surveillance and Intelligence Manager
Airbus Defence and Space, CIS,SATCOM, UK Government
20th November 2014

2. Airbus Defence and Space, CIS, SATCOM, UK Government
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
Airbus Defence and Space, CIS, SATCOM, UK Government
Airbus D&S provides end-to-end, resilient secure communications services to UK Government and other third party international government organisations
18 November 2018

3. SKYNET Locations 107.3°W 53°E 34°W 35.5°E 17.8°W 33°E 25°E 1°W 6°E
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
SKYNET Locations
107.3°W
53°E
34°W
35.5°E
17.8°W
33°E
25°E
1°W
6°E
18 November 2018

4. SKYNET Fleet vs. Solar Cycles
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
SKYNET Fleet vs. Solar Cycles
SKYNET Fleet
SKYNET 4A
SKYNET 4B
SKYNET 4C
NATO IVA
NATO IVB
SKYNET 4D
SKYNET 4E
SKYNET 4F
SKYNET 5A
SKYNET 5B
SKYNET 5C
SKYNET 5D
Solar Activity
18 November 2018

5. Typical effects on spacecraft platforms
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
Space Weather Effects
Typical effects on spacecraft platforms
Single Event Effects
Memory register corruptions
Deep Dielectric Discharge
Electrical discharge into cables, harness and platform units
May cause damage or spurious switching
Displacement Damage
Degradation of Solar Arrays and sensors
Total Ionising Dose
Degradation of platform units over time
18 November 2018

6. Nowcasting/Forecasting Services
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
Nowcasting/Forecasting Services
Airbus Defence and Space currently receive nowcasts/forecasts and warnings from:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Nowcasts/Forecasts and warnings
UK Met Office
Detailed forecasts and warnings
UK SpOCC
Warnings
Solar Influences Data Analysis Centre (SIDC)
Nowcasts
18 November 2018

7. Space Weather Activities
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
Space Weather Activities
Two scenarios are currently considered by Airbus D&S:
Routine Space Weather
Day to day monitoring (routine operation)
Warning service provided to users
Large Space Weather Event
Contingencies for potential large event (under development)
Spacecraft and ground operations procedures to mitigate effects
User services during and restoration afterwards considered
18 November 2018

8. Large Space Weather Event
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
Large Space Weather Event
Spacecraft Operations:
Optimise Operations
Ensure time tag queues loaded
Have today’s service priority list, incorporating user requirements
Ground Operations:
Ensure prime/backup control centres ‘primed’
Ground assets allocated with optimal diversity
Communications links in place (operator to operator, operator to customer)
Ensure people are in the right places
Possible extended disruption to transport, power and terrestrial comms
Be prepared to move people early, not too late
Ensure maintenance and support ready
GPS dependencies ready for “free wheeling”
Optical systems primed (surveillance)
Internal capacity to sustain displaced workers
18 November 2018

9. Future Further understanding of local space weather effects:
SKYNET Operations and Space Weather
Future
Further understanding of local space weather effects:
Flying sensor packages
Cost of both supply and integration/test needs to be considered
Optional component?
Part of payload or platform?
Correlation of platform events against observed space weather environment
Partnerships between operators and space weather service providers
Correlation of platform events against space weather forecasts
Operators sharing/pooling information
How to declassify?
What information is useful?
18 November 2018