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Screening Jobs

Once you have identified the primary data to screen, you can create, configure, and run a launch screening with Satcat Launch to rapidly process the data and identify any potential conjunctions.

In general, the lifecycle of a screening with Satcat Launch consists of the following steps:

  • Creation, when you initially create the screening on Satcat Launch
  • Configuration, when you configure the screening's parameters, primaries, and secondaries
  • Submission, when you submit the screening to be processed
  • Completion, when Satcat Launch finishes processing and results are available

Creation​

Satcat Launch displays an organization's launch screenings under Screening jobs. All completed screening jobs and partially configured jobs can be found in the table listing.

Each screening job in the jobs listing includes summary information on the primary and secondary data, and the launch configuration settings. Once a job is complete, it can be opened for a full report of the conjunction results.

Creating a New Screening Job​

Select New Screening Job, set the desired launch options, and add primary and secondary objects.

Launch Window

In a launch screening, the primary launch ephemerides are only screened at the launch times in the screening's launch window, regardless of the nominal launch time of the launch ephemeris as it was uploaded.

Adding Primaries​

Choose from the available file formats and select Import to upload one or more local ephemeris files to this screening job.

Multiple primary stages​

Screen all files for a multi-stage launch in one launch screening by adding individual launch ephemeris for each object as a primary. Be sure to specify the Hard Body Radius (HBR) for each stage.

Adding Secondaries​

Choose the data source for the objects in the space domain that the primaries will be screened against. Satcat Launch allows the following data sources for secondaries:

  • One or more ephemeris files
  • Propagation via state vectors and/or TLEs
  • An entire catalog

Secondary ephemeris can also be propagated from an OPM upload, a TLE, or a state vector. Use Upload custom data to supply any of these.

View all supported File Formats

Adding catalog data​

Screen 18th SDS Catalog and Screen ephemeris repository each screen the primaries against every ephemeris in that source. Screen with Starlink API requires credentials. See Starlink STC Access for details. To add individual secondary objects instead, search the 18th SDS Catalog and ephemeris repository by NORAD ID or RSO name.

Primary vs Secondary Coverage Map​

In order to ensure the primary and secondary data will overlap, a visual indication is provided. The coverage map will display GREEN across all times where both the primary and secondary contain overlapping time. The Primary/Secondary focus view will adjust the time span of the map to the time span of either the primary data or secondary data.

If the Primary focus view contains a GREEN bar across the entire time span, then all primary and secondary data overlaps.

Configuration​

Once the launch window, primary and secondary data, and coverage map are complete, the screening parameters can be configured.

Screening Job Details​

Enter the launch screening job details, such as a descriptive Title that will appear on the jobs listing, and any optional Notes to describe the screening job.

Screening Settings​

Set the cadence of the launch window by setting a Launch screening time steps value between 1 and 60 seconds. If desired, launch providers can set all thresholds to follow FAA regulations by toggling on Set to FAA regulations.

Threshold Radius Settings​

The General screening volume radius is the threshold distance at which two objects in the space domain are considered to have a conjunction, or close approach.

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Conjunction results outside the screening volume radius values are not displayed. Larger thresholds must be set before the screening runs.

Custom Category Thresholds​

Satcat Launch allows for optionally setting a different threshold radius for secondary objects of different categories. Specifically, an override threshold can be set for screening against the following categories:

  • General - Orbital debris, rocket bodies, and derelict or inactive spacecraft
  • Active - Satellites which are in active operation
  • Crewed - Habitable objects which have the capability for human spaceflight

If one of the above optional category-specific threshold radius settings is configured, any secondary objects in that category will be screened with the category-specific threshold instead of the General screening threshold. These optional settings are primarily used for regulation compliance.

FAA regulations require launch providers to screen with the following values:

  • 200 km threshold radius against habitable spacecraft
  • 25 km threshold radius against active spacecraft
  • 2.5 km threshold radius against debris objects

Review and Submission​

Once the Screening is fully configured, the screening is ready for processing by Satcat Launch. A final review page is displayed with all primary and secondary data, and screening configuration settings. If anything is incorrect, select Go back and edit to make the appropriate changes.

Once submitted, the screening job will appear in the jobs listing. If a screening job was configured and not submitted, the job configuration will be saved and available in the jobs listing for future submission.