Data Encryption on NPOESS National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Satellite Direct Readout Users Conference for the Americas Captain Craig S. Nelson, NOAA (Ret.) Veridian Systems Division Integrated Program Office 11

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Data Encryption on NPOESS National
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental
Satellite System Satellite Direct Readout
Users Conferencefor the AmericasCaptain Craig
S. Nelson, NOAA (Ret.)Veridian Systems
DivisionIntegrated Program Office11 December
2002
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A Tri-agency Effort to Leverage and Combine
Environmental Satellite Activities

• Mission
• Provide a national, operational, polar-orbiting
  remote-sensing capability
• Achieve National Performance Review (NPR) savings
  by converging DoD and NOAA satellite programs
• Incorporate new technologies from NASA
• Encourage International Cooperation

Saves 1.6B through System Life Cycle compared
to NPR target of 1.3B NPOESS is Good Government!
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NPOESS

• NPOESS is required to provide an OPERATIONAL
  remote sensing capability to acquire and receive
  in real-time at field terminals, and to acquire,
  store and disseminate to processing centers,
  GLOBAL and REGIONAL environmental imagery and
  specialized METEOROLOGICAL, CLIMATIC,
  TERRESTRIAL, OCEANOGRAPHIC and SOLAR-GEOPHYSICAL
  and other data in support of CIVILIAN and
  NATIONAL SECURITY missions

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National Importance

• Civilian Community
• Timely, accurate, and cost-effective public
  warnings and forecasts of severe weather events,
  reduce the potential loss of human life and
  property and advance the national economy
• Support of general aviation, agriculture, and
  maritime communities aimed at increasing U.S.
  productivity
• Commitment to support long-term data continuity
  for environmental monitoring and Global Change
  assessment
• Military Community
• Shift tactical and strategic focus from coping
  with weather to anticipating and exploiting
  atmospheric and space environmental conditions

NPOESS Goal Improve the Nations Space-Based,
Remote Sensing Capabilities for Environmental
Monitoring
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Establishing NPOESS

• National Space Council Study - 1992
• National Performance Review (NPR) - September
  1993
• Identified Need for Coordinated Effort
• OSTP Convergence Implementation Plan submitted to
  Congress - May 1994
• Presidential Decision Directive/NSTC-2 - May 1994
• Directed Convergence of National Assets

• Tri-agency Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) - May
  1995
• Established Roles and Responsibilities of
  Department of Defense, Department of Commerce,
  and NASA
• EUMETSAT/NOAA Initial Joint Polar Agreement -
  November 1998
• Future International Cooperation

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NPOESS Data Policies

• Policies Established by Presidential Decision
  Directive
• Assured access to operational environmental data
  will be provided to meet civil and national
  security requirements and international
  obligations
• The United States will ensure its ability to
  selectively deny critical environmental data to
  an adversary during crisis or war yet ensure the
  use of such data by the U.S. and its Allies.
  Such data will be made available to other users
  when it no longer has military utility.

Normal Operations - NPOESS data will be broadcast
without encryption International Community will
have Free and Open Access to all data from NPOESS
satellites!
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NPOESS Data Policies

• Operating Principles defined in Memorandums of
  Agreement
• NPOESS will establish a civilian interface (NOAA)
  to national and international civil users to
  promote its open character.
• NPOESS will be able to implement data denial as
  directed by the Secretary of Defense in
  consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and
  State.
• In the event that a foreign satellite is part of
  NPOESS, the operations concept will include the
  details of data denial implementation of any U.S.
  instruments on a foreign satellite (e.g.,
  EUMETSATs Metop series) in accordance with
  applicable agreements.

All data from NPOESS satellites will be provided
to users in accordance with the U.S. data policy
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NPOESS Architecture
Svalbard Primary TC NPP SMD
WSC LEOA Backup TC
SMD Ka-band/gt150 Mbps (Full set of 55 EDRs)
15 Globally Distributed Receptor Sites
MMC at Schriever Alternate Operations Team
MMC at Suitland Flight Operations Team
C3 Segment
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Field Terminals are an integral part of NPOESS
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Selective Data Encryption

• NPOESS will be capable of encrypting selected
  mission data in all satellite links
• Excluding SARSAT and ADCS real-time downlinks
• Encryption commanding selectable by
• High Rate Data (HRD) Low Rate Data (LRD) Stored
  Mission Data (SMD)
• Area (Globally or Geographic Regions)
• Instrument suite/mission data type
• Ground facility/end user ID
• Authorized Users of registered real-time Field
  Terminals (HRD/LRD) will have capability to
  automatically decrypt the data downlinks
• Decryption software/keys provided by NPOESS
  Integrated Program Office (IPO) to
  authorized/registered users
• Authorization/Registration and Key Control
  maintained by NPOESS IPO

Restricted Operations - NPOESS data will be
broadcast with encryption Authorized/Registered
Users in the International Community will have
Access to encrypted data from NPOESS satellites
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NPOESS Benefits

• Weather permeates all aspects of military
  operations
• NPOESS data will provide situational awareness
• Situational Awareness is critical to
• Combat Planning
• Air Superiority
• Winning the War

• Accurate forecasts are critical to the protection
  of life, safety, and property
• NPOESS data will improve forecasts and warnings
• Improved forecasts will
• Reduce loss of life and property
• benefit US industry through increased
  productivity
• NPOESS will maintain long-term data continuity
  for climate monitoring and assessment