Publications

Recent research and development in exploiting quantum phenomenon have solidified the creation of large-scale quantum computers as a reality. These machines will have the ability to solve intractable problems defined on conventional computers. This has a significant impact on current cryptographic systems. A viable quantum computer will require an increase in symmetric key sizes and the replacement of asymmetric cryptographic schemes. Specifically, new constructs for public key cryptosystems must be established in order to continue to ensure the security that digital signatures and key exchange protocols provide. Understanding the post-quantum landscape is critical to applying Sandia-developed capabilities to post-quantum cyber areas. Developing a cohort of experts in this challenging and volatile space has enabled our ability to adapt to the new challenges in various customer mission areas.

As a tool developed to translate geospatial data into geometrical descriptors, Tracktable offers a highly efficient means to detect anomalous flight and maritime behavior. Following the success of using geometrical descriptors for detecting anomalous trajectory behavior, the question of whether Tracktable could be used to detect satellite maneuvers arose. In answering this question, this re- port will introduce a brief description of how Tracktable has been used in the past, along with an introduction to the fundamental properties of astrodynamics for satellite trajectories. This will then allow us to compare the two problem spaces, addressing how easily the methods used by Tracktable will translate to orbital mechanics. Based on these results, we will then be able to out- line the current limitations as well as possible path forward for using Tracktable to detect satellite maneuvers.