SST Networking, Security & Data sharing

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Expected Outcomes:

This SST topic contributes to ensuring full and optimal capacity of the EUSST Partnership once the latter is set up. Its outcomes are expected to build on previous and ongoing actions and aim at achieving full capacity of the EUSST Partnership by end 2024.

Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:

The topic “SST Networking, Security & Data sharing” aims to support the upgrade, development and security issues of the EUSST infrastructure based on the European network of assets (sensors, operation centres, front desk, etc.).

Although the EUSST infrastructure should stay under national control (meaning mainly sensors and operation centres), an increased coordination is needed due to the increased number of assets contributing to the European SST system. Without this interconnection and coordination, it is impossible to ensure an efficient use of the resources and an appropriate response to the challenges posed by the changing space environment.

Concrete aspects of the EUSST network (e.g. pooling of data from multiple sensor sources; exchange between multiple operations centres of Member States) shall be considered in highly detailed case studies, modelling.

SST networking of sensors & operation centres (EU SST network Command & Control): Considering the increased number of objects to be handled, an increased number of events and users is expected. The EUSST system has to evolve into a coordinated scheduling of resources and assets, ensuring that events are covered in an optimal way while the current survey and tracking of the space objects population continues to be performed. The evolution of the EUSST network includes the Front Desk in charge of the interaction with the users (user needs, monitoring service performance, etc.).

• Raise main issues and propose solutions for the increasing complexity and missions’ constraints of the EUSST network.
• Connectivity and interface consolidation of network functions between sensors / database / operating centres / front desk (reliability, maintainability and agility).
• Develop EUSST network in order to include a future SBSS segment.

Research on EUSST network hardening against external threats: Security-critical aspects of the existing EUSST network. Various external threats should be considered in the research activity (e.g. cyber threats or other malicious activity). Research specifically applying to the hardening of the EUSST network could add value to existing research on network hardening that looks at computer networks and other related networks more generally.

• A secured and resilient EUSST infrastructure.
• Next generation exchange protocols/solutions for SSA enhancing interoperability and security (robustness, information assurance, intrusion detection, etc.)
• Define the need for SST-specific tools and solutions with regard to enhanced data interoperability and data security.

Scope:

This SST topic contributes to ensuring full and optimal capacity of the EUSST Partnership once the latter is set up. Its scope is expected to build on previous and ongoing actions and aims at achieving full capacity of the EUSST Partnership by end 2024.

The following R&I activities need to be addressed in order to tackle the above expected outcomes:

1. Update operation centres to improve current services (Collision Avoidance; Fragmentation; Re-entry) adapted to future user needs and the space environment.
2. Update operation centres to new missions and services (e.g. debris mitigation; debris remediation; etc.).
3. Adapt European SST network to a more efficient coordinated scheduling and tasking of resources and assets.
4. Develop new data sharing and fusion strategies and techniques adapted to both ground- and space-based SST assets.
5. Develop threat analysis and counter-measures to protect EUSST infrastructure.
6. Adapt EUSST operation centres for increasing security and resiliency.

As the legal entities (the “Constituting National Entities”) identified below are bodies designated by Member States, under their responsibility, to participate in the SST Partnership within the meaning of Articles 56 & 57 of the “Regulation (EU) 2021/696 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the space programme of the Union and the European Union Agency for the Space Programme”, and under the same Regulation (EU) 2021/696 the Member States are identified as beneficiaries, this grant is awarded without a call for proposals in accordance with Article 195(d) of the EU Financial Regulation 2018/1046 and Article 20 of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and Rules for Participation.

In this action the integration of the gender dimension (sex and gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement.

Implementation: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)

Note: specific conditions apply to this action.