AWS in Orbit: Modernizing Satellite Management – Detailed Summary

Podcast Information:

• Title: T-Minus Space Daily
• Host: Maria Vermazes
• Episode: AWS in Orbit: Modernizing Satellite Management
• Release Date: April 8, 2025

1. Introduction

In the latest episode of AWS in Orbit, part of the T-Minus Space Daily series by N2K Networks, host Maria Vermazes delves into the modernization of satellite management through AWS's Modular Framework for Satellite Operations Solutions. Recorded at the 40th Space Symposium, this episode features insightful discussions with representatives from Arcfield, Orion, AWS Aerospace, and Satellite. The conversation centers around innovative solutions addressing the complexities of satellite operations in today’s crowded space environment.

2. Guest Introductions

Maria introduces her esteemed guests, each bringing a wealth of expertise to the discussion:

• Junk Wilson (Senior Vice President, Orion Space Solutions, an Arcfield company)
  Background: Military career in the Air Force, physics degree from the Air Force Academy, expertise in space environment impacts on satellites.

• Ed Maletian (Solutions Architect, AWS Aerospace and Satellite)
  Background: Mission design and planning, experience with Raytheon on weather satellites, expertise in dynamic space situational awareness.

• William Dewey (Senior Software Engineer, AWS AI/ML Team)
  Background: Physics and computational mathematics, cosmology and particle physics, software engineering experience with major aerospace companies.

3. Orion's Orbit IQ: Advanced Orbit Propagation

Speaker: Junk Wilson
Key Points:

• Challenge Identified: Existing free products from NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) lacked the data fidelity necessary for precise satellite orbit predictions, leading to costly antenna time purchases due to timing inaccuracies.

  “If we are off by even a few seconds, those few seconds of antenna time that we buy are really expensive.” [03:00]

• Solution - Orbit IQ: Developed to provide high-fidelity orbit propagation with quantified uncertainty, leveraging over 100 space environment models and Monte Carlo simulation methods to reduce uncertainty significantly compared to market standards.

  “We actually have a measured uncertainty bubble calculated. And it turns out that our uncertainty bubble is significantly smaller than what everybody else is assuming.” [07:30]

• Impact on Space Traffic Management: Enhanced precision in orbit determination reduces false positives in conjunction assessments, essential for effective space traffic coordination.

  “Only with the measured uncertainty provided by Orbit IQ... can you actually do the space traffic coordination and space traffic management that we all know is necessary in this modern space age.” [08:00]

• Collaboration with Space Domain Awareness TAP Lab: Working together to address challenges like camouflage, concealment, and deception maneuvers (CCDM) in space.

  “There are awful lot of times where people are doing one thing, but they're saying another...” [08:30]

4. Dynamic Node Orchestration (Dyno)

Speaker: Ed Maletian
Key Points:

• Introduction to Dyno: A platform for building digital twins of complex dynamic systems with thousands to hundreds of thousands of moving nodes (e.g., satellites, ground stations, aircraft).

  “Dyno will orchestrate their motion, their connectivity, and build the system for you.” [09:26]

• Functionality: Enables simulation and optimization of network operations, including latency measurements, network self-healing, and adaptive routing in response to node failures or geographic constraints.

  “How do I reroute around a specific geographic region? ... Dynamo orchestrates their motion, their connectivity.” [11:00]

• Benefits for Satellite Constellations: Facilitates efficient connectivity and operational resilience, ensuring seamless communication and mission success even in dynamic environments.

  “If a node is sending back unhealthy signals, you update your digital twin to say, take this node out and send me new routes...” [16:31]

5. Oversight ML: Data Processing and Analysis

Speaker: William Dewey
Key Points:

• Role of OSML: Acts as the final stage in satellite data processing, managing the dissemination and analysis of high-resolution imagery using AI/ML frameworks.

  “Oversight ML is what happens at the very end of this pipeline...” [12:47]

• Challenges Addressed: Handling the exponential growth in data volume and complexity, facilitating efficient image normalization, targeted data release, and automated computer vision analysis.

  “How do we efficiently take these behemoth sized images and distribute them to computer vision so that we can go from image to insight...” [14:10]

• Impact on Various Sectors: Enhances capabilities for national defense, disaster response, and other critical applications by enabling rapid and accurate data-driven decisions.

  “Insights in minutes or hours makes all the difference in an organization's ability to effectively respond...” [15:04]

• Key Tool – Model Runner: Empowers customers to process overhead imagery against computer vision models at scale, streamlining the transition from data acquisition to actionable insights.

  “Model Runner... empowers customers to process overhead imagery against computer vision models efficiently at scale.” [13:20]

6. Integrating the Modular Framework

Speaker: Ed Maletian
Key Points:

• Interconnected Solutions: Orbit IQ, Dyno, and OSML form a cohesive framework for comprehensive satellite management, from precise orbit tracking to dynamic network orchestration and advanced data processing.

  “Orbit IQ is kind of where it all starts. ... Dyno handles system orchestration. OSML manages data insights.” [15:34]

• Unified Space Management: This integration allows for scalable and efficient operations, enabling satellite operators to maintain situational awareness, optimize network performance, and derive meaningful insights from vast data streams.

7. Benefits of AWS and AI in Modernizing Satellite Management

Speakers: Junk Wilson, William Dewey, Ed Maletian
Key Points:

• Scalability and Flexibility: AWS provides the necessary infrastructure to handle the growing number of space assets and the corresponding data, allowing solutions to scale seamlessly with demand.

  “AWS is kind of the king of scale in the market... allows customers to adapt to a rapidly evolving techno landscape...” [19:53]

• Cost Efficiency: By leveraging AWS’s cloud services, satellite operators can avoid the hefty costs associated with building and maintaining their own computational infrastructure.

  “AWS offers a framework for implementing all of these on the fly.” [21:33]

• Operational Simplicity: AWS’s serverless offerings and orchestration tools remove the burden of IT operations from satellite companies, allowing them to focus on their core competencies.

  “If you bring on a new mission... you don’t have to worry about it.” [21:00]

• Economic Advantages: Rapid advancements in hardware are managed by AWS, ensuring that customers always have access to the latest technologies without additional investment.

  “How quickly is this hardware going to depreciate?... AWS offers a framework for implementing all of these on the fly.” [21:56]

• Security and Customization: AWS provides extensive options for data security and system customization, catering to the diverse needs of satellite operators.

  “Install it right in your own personal AWS account, and feed it what you want to feed it.” [19:27]

8. Future Perspectives

Maria turns the conversation towards the future, eliciting personal insights from each guest:

• Junk Wilson: Excited about commercial suborbital rocket travel and the advancements it will bring to space accessibility.

  “I can't wait to see this is when we get commercial suborbital rocket travel.” [22:38]

• Ed Maletian: Enthusiastic about increasing connectivity from new satellites, which will revolutionize access to information even in remote locations.

  “As we continue to launch new satellites that provide connectivity to very remote places on Earth...” [22:52]

• William Dewey: Fascinated by the intersection of space technology with philosophical understanding and the practical applications that enhance human life, such as improved communication and accessible space travel.

  “Understanding, with our place in the universe... communicate with one another more efficiently and quickly.” [23:22]

9. Conclusion

Maria wraps up the episode by thanking her guests for their valuable insights. She encourages listeners to provide feedback via email or surveys to help tailor future content. The episode underscores the transformative role of AWS and AI in modernizing satellite management, highlighting the seamless integration of advanced orbit propagation, dynamic orchestration, and AI-driven data analysis.

Key Takeaway: The collaborative efforts of AWS, Orion, and their partners are paving the way for a more efficient, scalable, and intelligent approach to satellite operations, crucial for navigating the increasingly congested and complex space environment.

Notable Quotes:

• “Only with the measured uncertainty provided by Orbit IQ... can you actually do the space traffic coordination and space traffic management.” – Junk Wilson [08:00]
• “AWS is kind of the king of scale in the market...” – William Dewey [19:53]
• “I can't wait to see this is when we get commercial suborbital rocket travel.” – Junk Wilson [22:38]

Produced By:

• Laura Barber (AWS Aerospace and Satellite)
• Liz Stokes & Alice Carruth (N2K)

Mixed By:

• Elliot Peltzman & Trey Hester

Original Music and Sound Design:

• Elliot Peltzman

Executive Producer:

• Jennifer Ibin

Publisher:

• Peter Kilpe

For more insights and updates, visit N2K Networks or reach out via email at us@spacen2k.com.