SCOR Practitioner — Session 6: Space Operations Exercise

MODULE 6

SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISE

Simulation Exercise One — Kinetic Exposure Domain

Establish nominal operations and respond to a direct-ascent anti-satellite threat

60 Minutes | 10 min instruction + 40 min simulation + 10 min break

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

LABS Learning Objectives

Learn, Apply, Build, Simulate

LABS Component	Type	Statement
(L)EARN	Knowledge	Knowledge of Low Earth Orbit constellation operations, including spacecraft health telemetry, link budget management, and orbital parameter monitoring.
(L)EARN	Knowledge	Knowledge of the Kinetic exposure domain and how direct-ascent anti-satellite threats and ground facility attacks manifest in a space operations context.
(A)PPLY	Skill	Skill in establishing a nominal operations baseline using spacecraft telemetry, link status, and mission data throughput metrics.
(A)PPLY	Skill	Skill in detecting and classifying a Kinetic threat indicator by identifying deviations from the established operational baseline.
(B)UILD	Ability	Ability to evaluate simultaneous ground station and orbital threat indicators and determine whether the events represent a coordinated attack or independent failures.
(S)IMULATE	Task	Detect, classify, and respond to a direct-ascent anti-satellite threat and a concurrent ground station physical security breach within a single 40-minute exercise window.

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

Exercise Scenario Briefing

Students operate a 3-satellite LEO constellation at approximately 550 km altitude in a sun-synchronous orbit, providing Earth observation and communications relay services. This introductory exercise is designed for first-time operators and focuses on establishing a nominal baseline before encountering a single, guided Kinetic threat scenario.

CONSTELLATION

3 satellites, ~550 km altitude, sun-synchronous orbit
Cross-linked via optical inter-satellite links
Two ground stations: primary and backup
Mission: Earth observation + comms relay

EXERCISE STRUCTURE

Phase 1: Nominal operations baseline (~15 min)
Phase 2: Kinetic threat scenario (~25 min)
Instructor guidance available throughout
Designed for first-time operators

Memorize what ‘normal’ looks like. Every anomaly requires you to distinguish threat activity from nominal variation.

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

Phase 1: Nominal Operations Baseline

Establishing What Normal Looks Like

Students familiarize themselves with the simulation interface using the 3-satellite constellation: spacecraft health telemetry, link budgets, orbital parameters, and mission data throughput. First-time operators are guided through each system in sequence to establish a clear picture of what normal looks like before any threat is introduced. This phase occupies the first 15 minutes of the exercise.

SPACECRAFT HEALTH

Power generation, thermal control, attitude determination, battery state of charge, solar array current. Monitor all three satellites for nominal ranges.

LINK BUDGETS

Uplink/downlink signal strength, bit error rates, inter-satellite link quality, ground station handover timing, command acknowledgment latency.

ORBITAL PARAMETERS

Semi-major axis, eccentricity, inclination, RAAN, argument of perigee, true anomaly. Conjunction screening data from space surveillance network.

BASELINE PRINCIPLE

If you cannot define the baseline, you cannot detect deviations.

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

Phase 2: Direct-Ascent Anti-Satellite Threat

Kinetic Exposure Domain

Intelligence reports a direct-ascent anti-satellite (DA-ASAT) test in an adjacent orbital regime generating a debris field. Simultaneously, the primary ground station reports a physical security breach with tampering detected on the antenna feed assembly.

ORBITAL THREAT

DA-ASAT launched from mobile platform
Debris field generating conjunction risk
Students review conjunction data and command collision avoidance maneuver
Instructors guide first-time operators through the maneuver command sequence

GROUND THREAT

Physical security breach at primary ground station
Antenna feed assembly tampering detected
Students switch command authority to backup ground station
Assess whether orbital and ground events are coordinated

KINETIC DOMAIN

KINETIC — Physical destruction through direct force: ASAT weapons, kill vehicles, ground facility sabotage. Orbital assets cannot be physically protected once deployed.

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

Instructor Guidance Notes

This exercise is designed for first-time operators. Instructors should:

Guide students through each telemetry system during the baseline phase
Walk first-time operators through the maneuver command sequence step by step
Explain the ground station switchover procedure before students execute it
Help students assess whether the orbital and ground events are coordinated
Pace the Phase 1 to Phase 2 transition to ensure baseline understanding is solid

The goal is building confidence with the simulation interface while introducing the Kinetic exposure domain concept.

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

Feedback Requested from Zendir

The following questions will help finalize this exercise design. We welcome any additional recommendations.

Is a 3-satellite Low Earth Orbit constellation a practical starting configuration for your platform?
Can the baseline establishment phase be supported with guided tooltips or instructor overlays for first-time operators?
How do you recommend pacing the Phase 1 to Phase 2 transition within the 40-minute window?
Can conjunction data and collision avoidance maneuver commanding be simulated realistically?
Is ground station switchover (primary to backup) achievable on your platform?

COLLABORATION

Scenario design is open for Zendir’s input. We want exercises that work well on your platform.

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

Exposure Domain Reference: Kinetic

From SCORP² Cookbook Volume 0, Section 1A.1

Kinetic threats involve the physical destruction or disabling of platform components through direct force. In the space domain: Anti-Satellite (ASAT) weapons, kinetic kill vehicles that intercept satellites through direct impact, and orbital debris generated by deliberate destruction. On the ground: physical attacks against ground station facilities, sabotage of antenna systems, and disruption of power and communications infrastructure.

Key challenge: orbital assets cannot be physically protected or repaired once deployed. A single kinetic event can generate thousands of debris fragments (Kessler Syndrome).

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

MODULE 6 — SPACE OPERATIONS EXERCISESCORP²

Exercise Summary

Phase	Duration	Focus	Domain
Phase 1	~15 min	Nominal operations baseline establishment	Baseline
Phase 2	~25 min	DA-ASAT threat + ground station breach response	Kinetic

Students completing this exercise will have established their first operational baseline and responded to their first exposure domain threat. This foundation prepares them for the Non-Kinetic Physical domain in Module 7.

SCORP² Practitioner | eHs®TLP-GREEN

✓

Module 6 Complete

Established nominal operations baseline on a 3-satellite LEO constellation
Detected and responded to a Kinetic threat: DA-ASAT + ground station breach
First exposure domain mastered — foundation for progressive complexity

Next: Module 7 — Guidance Modes Exercise (Non-Kinetic Physical Domain)