Space Domain Awareness Grand Challenge – Ground-Based Spectral Signatures of Satellites | USAFA BAA 2021 CALL0002

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1) What is the Space Domain Awareness Grand Challenge - Ground-Based Spectral Signatures of Satellites?

This is a two-step research funding call under the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) USAFA-BAA-2021. It focuses on improving the ability to identify and characterize manmade satellites using ground-based optical signature techniques, with a narrow emphasis on slitless spectroscopy.

2) Who is sponsoring and managing this research effort?

The effort is sponsored by the USAFA Department of Physics through the Center for Space Situational Awareness Research (CSSAR). CSSAR focuses on understanding and characterizing manmade satellites using ground-based optical observations gathered both on the USAFA campus and through the globally distributed Falcon Telescope Network.

3) What is the main technical focus of the call?

The research emphasis is narrowly targeted to slitless spectroscopy for satellite characterization. While photometry and polarimetry are referenced as related optical signature techniques, spectroscopy is the main focus in this call.

4) Why does the call emphasize characterization when satellites cannot be resolved as images?

A central theme is extracting meaningful information about satellites even when the object cannot be resolved into an image. The call is aimed at using optical signatures (especially spectral signatures) to infer properties and identifiers without relying on resolved imagery.

5) What are the three main technical need areas highlighted in the call?

The call highlights three primary need areas:

• Calibration of USAFA telescopes for slitless spectroscopy (instrumenting, calibrating, validating, and quantifying performance for slitless spectral data collection).
• Practical application of slitless spectroscopy to characterize manmade satellites (observation strategies, processing pipelines, and demonstrations of how spectra reveal materials/surface properties/identifying traits under realistic conditions).
• Advanced feature extraction and data exploitation (methods to infer satellite characteristics from spectral signatures alone, or via fusion with photometric and polarimetric signatures, including machine learning where appropriate).

6) What does “calibration of USAFA telescopes for slitless spectroscopy” mean in this context?

It means proposals should address how to instrument USAFA telescopes for slitless spectroscopy and how to calibrate and validate that configuration. The call specifically notes the need to quantify performance and address calibration and data-quality challenges that come with collecting spectral data without a slit, even though slitless configurations can be advantageous for tracking fast-moving satellites.

7) What kinds of “practical application” efforts are responsive to the call?

The call describes responsive efforts as those that apply slitless spectroscopy to real satellite characterization problems. Examples mentioned include designing observation strategies, building or refining processing pipelines, and demonstrating how spectral measurements can reveal satellite materials, surface properties, or other identifying traits under realistic observing conditions.

8) Is machine learning allowed or encouraged?

Yes. The third technical area (advanced feature extraction and data exploitation) explicitly invites machine learning and other data analysis or data-fusion approaches, as long as the purpose is to turn raw signature measurements into actionable satellite characterization outcomes.

9) Can proposals combine spectroscopy with photometry and polarimetry?

Yes. The call’s third technical area allows inferring features from spectral signatures alone or by fusing spectral information with photometric and polarimetric signatures. Spectroscopy remains the main focus, but fusion approaches are specifically within scope.

10) What is a defining program expectation beyond the technical work?

Education and workforce development through cadet involvement is a defining expectation. The selected researcher is expected to incorporate USAFA cadet participation throughout the effort, typically one to two cadets per semester.

11) How should cadet involvement be addressed in a proposal?

Based on the call’s stated expectations, proposals are implicitly stronger when they include a realistic plan for mentoring, tasking, training, and integrating cadets into the research workflow, rather than treating cadet involvement as an afterthought.

12) What is the submission structure for this opportunity?

The submission process is a two-step call:

1. Step 1: Submit a white paper as a screening submission.
2. Step 2: Only applicants invited after white paper review submit a full technical and cost proposal.

13) What had to be included in the Step 1 white paper?

The white paper had to follow the baseline USAFA-BAA-2021 instructions (including the section governing white paper content and format) and include:

• A brief resume for the principal investigator (PI)
• A rough order-of-magnitude (ROM) cost estimate

14) When was the white paper due?

White papers were due by 4:30 PM MST on April 12, 2021.

15) How were white papers submitted?

White papers were to be submitted by email to the designated contracting mailbox: 10 CONS/PKC, attention Christina Leary.

16) What happens after the government reviews the white papers?

The government uses the white papers as a screening mechanism. White papers considered of interest result in an invitation to submit a full technical and cost proposal. White paper submitters not selected for invitation receive notice that the effort will not be pursued under this call.

17) How are full proposals submitted (Step 2)?

Invited offerors submit full proposals following the baseline BAA requirements through Grants.gov, including the required federal forms.

18) Is there any additional step after being invited to propose?

Yes. Offerors are asked (as a courtesy) to email the grants/agreements contact indicating intent to propose after receiving a formal request for proposal.

19) When were full proposals due after invitation?

Proposals (once requested) were due 30 days after the formal request for proposal was issued.

20) What is the anticipated total funding amount and duration?

The call anticipated up to $300,000 total over approximately three years (about $100,000 per year), subject to government discretion, availability of funds, and evolving technical needs.

21) What is the anticipated period of performance?

The anticipated period of performance was about 36 months.

22) What type of award instrument was anticipated?

The anticipated award instrument was a Cooperative Agreement. However, USAFA reserved the right to use another instrument type (such as a grant or procurement contract) depending on the nature of the proposed research.

23) Is fee or profit allowed under this opportunity?

No. The call reiterates that fee or profit is not allowable under grants or cooperative agreements under the cited federal regulations.

24) What are the eligibility rules, and is foreign participation allowed?

Eligibility is described as broadly open in the listing, but the call includes a major restriction: foreign participation is not permitted at either the prime recipient level or the subaward level. Teams must be built entirely from allowable domestic entities, and personnel/subrecipient arrangements must avoid foreign subrecipients.

25) Is registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) required?

Yes. SAM registration is required prior to award and must be maintained throughout performance and final payment.

26) What is the anticipated award date?

The anticipated award date was August 1, 2021.

27) Which document governs requirements that are not specifically modified by this call?

All requirements in the baseline USAFA-BAA-2021 apply unless specifically modified by this call.

28) Where were updates or amendments supposed to be monitored?

Updates or amendments were to be monitored via Grants.gov.

29) Who is the technical point of contact for research questions?

The technical point of contact is Dr. Francis Chun (CSSAR Director).

30) Who are the contracting and submission points of contact?

The contracting and submission points of contact are Christina Leary (Grants/Agreements Specialist) and Erica Wilson (Grants/Agreements Officer).