Launch on Demand
Systems, methods, and devices for dynamically identifying launch opportunities for a space vehicle. A space launch service platform (SLSP) receives time-stamped positional data from an external tracking system monitoring aircraft, maritime vessels, or orbital objects. The SLSP synchronizes received positional data to a unified timeline using a common reference clock. At predetermined intervals, the SLSP calculates predicted future positions of monitored objects by extrapolation. The SLSP calculates predicted proximities between a predefined launch trajectory—defined within an Earth-centered inertial coordinate system—and each predicted future position. The SLSP determines a risk index for each predicted proximity. The SLSP identifies discrete launch windows within a specified launch period where predicted proximities exceed a clearance threshold and associated risk indices remain below a risk threshold. The SLSP aggregates contiguous discrete windows into at least one continuous launch interval and generates a launch opportunity indication associating each interval with a launch readiness signal.
1 . A space launch service platform (SLSP) computing system, comprising:
a processing system comprising one or more processors configured to:
receive time-stamped positional data from at least one external tracking system monitoring at least one or more of aircraft, maritime vessels, and orbital objects;
synchronize the time-stamped positional data to a unified timeline based on a common reference clock;
calculate, at predetermined intervals, predicted future positions of each monitored aircraft, maritime vessel, and orbital object by extrapolating current positional data;
calculate predicted proximities between a predefined launch trajectory of the space vehicle and each predicted future position, wherein the predefined launch trajectory is defined within an Earth-centered inertial coordinate system;
determine a risk index for each calculated predicted proximity;
determine at least one discrete launch window within a specified launch period during which all calculated predicted proximities exceed a clearance threshold and all associated risk indices remain below a risk threshold;
aggregate contiguous discrete launch windows meeting the clearance threshold and the risk threshold of the risk index into at least one continuous launch interval; and
generate a launch opportunity indication associating each aggregated launch interval with a launch readiness signal.
2 . The SLSP computing system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to dynamically recalculate the predicted proximities in response to receiving updated time-stamped positional data or updated environmental data indicating a change affecting the predicted proximities.
3 . The SLSP computing system of claim 2 , wherein the processing system is further configured to adjust the risk index for each recalculated predicted proximity in response to dynamically recalculating the predicted proximities.
4 . The SLSP computing system of claim 3 , wherein the processing system is further configured to issue a launch hold command in response to at least one recalculated predicted proximity failing to exceed the clearance threshold or at least one adjusted risk index exceeding the risk threshold.
5 . The SLSP computing system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to modify the predicted proximities based on real-time anomaly signals indicative of deviations from the predefined launch trajectory.
6 . The SLSP computing system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to store the time-stamped positional data, the synchronized positional data, the calculated predicted proximities, the determined discrete launch windows, the risk index for each predicted proximity, any generated launch opportunity indication, and any issued launch hold command for post-launch review or regulatory compliance.
7 . The SLSP computing system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is configured to determine the at least one discrete launch window within the specified launch period during which all the calculated predicted proximities exceed the clearance threshold and all the associated risk indices remain below the risk threshold and aggregate the contiguous discrete launch windows meeting the clearance threshold and the risk threshold into the at least one continuous launch interval by:
dividing the specified launch period into a plurality of discrete sub-intervals;
excluding each discrete sub-interval in which at least one calculated predicted proximity does not exceed the predefined clearance threshold or at least one corresponding risk index exceeds the predetermined maximum; and
aggregating remaining contiguous discrete sub-intervals that meet the clearance threshold and the risk threshold into the at least one continuous launch interval.
8 . A computer-implemented method for dynamically identifying a launch opportunity for a space vehicle, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor, time-stamped positional data from at least one external tracking system monitoring at least one or more of aircraft, maritime vessels, and orbital objects;
synchronizing the time-stamped positional data to a unified timeline based on a common reference clock;
calculating, at predetermined intervals, predicted future positions of each monitored aircraft, maritime vessel, and orbital object by extrapolating current positional data;
calculating predicted proximities between a predefined launch trajectory of the space vehicle and each predicted future position, wherein the predefined launch trajectory is defined within an Earth-centered inertial coordinate system;
determining a risk index for each calculated predicted proximity;
determining at least one discrete launch window within a specified launch period during which all calculated predicted proximities exceed a clearance threshold and all associated risk indices remain below a risk threshold;
aggregating contiguous discrete launch windows meeting the clearance threshold and the risk threshold of the risk index into at least one continuous launch interval; and
generating a launch opportunity indication associating each aggregated launch interval with a launch readiness signal.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising dynamically recalculating the predicted proximities in response to receiving updated time-stamped positional data or updated environmental data indicating a change affecting the predicted proximities.
10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising adjusting the risk index for each recalculated predicted proximity in response to dynamically recalculating the predicted proximities.
11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising issuing a launch hold command in response to at least one recalculated predicted proximity failing to exceed the clearance threshold or at least one adjusted risk index exceeding the risk threshold.
12 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising modifying the predicted proximities based on real-time anomaly signals indicative of deviations from the predefined launch trajectory.
13 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising storing the time-stamped positional data, the synchronized positional data, the calculated predicted proximities, the determined discrete launch windows, the risk index for each predicted proximity, any generated launch opportunity indication, and any issued launch hold command for post-launch review or regulatory compliance.
14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the at least one discrete launch window within the specified launch period during which all the calculated predicted proximities exceed the clearance threshold and all the associated risk indices remain below the risk threshold and aggregating the contiguous discrete launch windows meeting the clearance threshold and the risk threshold into the at least one continuous launch interval comprises:
dividing the specified launch period into a plurality of discrete sub-intervals;
excluding each discrete sub-interval in which at least one calculated predicted proximity does not exceed the predefined clearance threshold or at least one corresponding risk index exceeds the predetermined maximum; and
aggregating remaining contiguous discrete sub-intervals that meet the clearance threshold and the risk threshold into the at least one continuous launch interval.
15 . A non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable instructions configured to cause a processing system in a computing device to perform operations for dynamically identifying a launch opportunity for a space vehicle, the operations comprising:
receiving time-stamped positional data from at least one external tracking system monitoring at least one or more of aircraft, maritime vessels, and orbital objects;
synchronizing the time-stamped positional data to a unified timeline based on a common reference clock;
calculating, at predetermined intervals, predicted future positions of each monitored aircraft, maritime vessel, and orbital object by extrapolating current positional data;
calculating predicted proximities between a predefined launch trajectory of the space vehicle and each predicted future position, wherein the predefined launch trajectory is defined within an Earth-centered inertial coordinate system;
determining a risk index for each calculated predicted proximity;
determining at least one discrete launch window within a specified launch period during which all calculated predicted proximities exceed a clearance threshold and all associated risk indices remain below a risk threshold;
aggregating contiguous discrete launch windows meeting the clearance threshold and the risk threshold of the risk index into at least one continuous launch interval; and
generating a launch opportunity indication associating each aggregated launch interval with a launch readiness signal.