“When the eyes go blind, the mission can still continue, if the operator knows which pointing mode to fall back to.”
Navigate spacecraft pointing modes during an adversary horizon-sensor dazzling attack and maintain mission availability without the primary attitude reference.
60 MINUTES · 10 min instruction · 40 min simulation · 10 min review
| LABS Component | Type | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| (L)EARN | Knowledge | Knowledge of spacecraft ADCS pointing modes and the role of star trackers, magnetometers, sun sensors, gyroscopes, and GPS receivers in attitude determination. |
| (L)EARN | Knowledge | Knowledge of how a ground-based directed energy source can dazzle a nadir-pointing horizon sensor during a low-altitude pass, corrupting the attitude solution. |
| (A)PPLY | Skill | Skill in commanding and validating spacecraft attitude transitions between pointing modes using onboard sensor feedback. |
| (A)PPLY | Skill | Skill in detecting ADCS degradation caused by horizon sensor dazzling and switching to gyroscope and sun sensor configuration. |
| (B)UILD | Ability | Ability to determine whether an attitude anomaly originates from a hardware fault, environmental condition, or deliberate directed energy attack. |
| (S)IMULATE | Task | Detect horizon sensor dazzling caused by a ground-based directed energy source, transition to alternate sensors, slew the spacecraft to protect the sensor aperture, and restore pointing accuracy within the 40-minute exercise window. |
Students operate the same 3-satellite LEO constellation from Module 6, now equipped with a multi-mode Attitude Determination and Control System (ADCS). This exercise focuses on the Non-Kinetic Physical exposure domain through a horizon sensor dazzling event during a low-altitude pass over hostile territory. Students must navigate spacecraft pointing modes and respond to sensor degradation caused by a ground-based directed energy source.
Students command attitude changes and validate sensor feedback from star trackers, magnetometers, sun sensors, and gyroscopes. First-time operators are walked through each sensor’s role in the attitude determination solution. Students practice transitioning between pointing modes and confirming stable attitude before any threat is introduced.
A ground-based laser dazzles the nadir-pointing horizon sensor during a low-altitude pass, corrupting the attitude solution and causing pointing drift. Students must identify this as a Non-Kinetic Physical attack, transition to gyroscope and sun sensor inputs, and temporarily slew the spacecraft to point the horizon sensor aperture away from the threat ground track.
This exercise builds on Module 6 skills. Instructors should:
The following questions will help finalize this exercise design. We welcome any additional recommendations.
Non-Kinetic Physical threats use directed energy or electromagnetic effects to degrade, disrupt, or deny platform capabilities without physical destruction. In the space domain: ground-based lasers that dazzle or blind optical sensors, high-powered microwave (HPM) weapons that disrupt electronics, electromagnetic pulse (EMP) effects, and persistent radiation environments that degrade onboard electronics over time. Attribution is difficult because the effects may be temporary and leave no physical evidence of attack.
Students completing this exercise will have practiced spacecraft attitude management and responded to a directed energy attack on an optical sensor. This foundation prepares them for the Cyber domain in Module 8.
| Phase | Duration | Focus | Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 1 | ~15 min | Nominal ADCS mode transitions and sensor familiarization | Baseline |
| Phase 2 | ~25 min | Horizon sensor dazzling detection and response | Non-Kinetic Physical |