Salvatore Alfano, Ph.D.

Sr. Research Astrodynamicist
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Sal develops, maintains, and employs the tools for predicting and assessing satellite conjunctions and associated avoidance maneuver planning.

“When I'm not working, you can find me playing soccer.”

BACKGROUND

Education:

Ph.D. Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Colorado
M.S. Astronautical Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology
B.S. Astronautical Engineering, United States Air Force Academy


Prior Experience:

Sr. Research Astrodynamicist, AGI
Technical Program Manager, The Aerospace Corporation
Vice Director of Analysis, NORAD & US SPACE COM Colonel, USAF (Ret.)
Committee Chairman, AIAA Astrodynamics Technical Committee
Astrodynamics Division Chief, USAF Research Laboratory
Professor, USAF Academy
Instructor, USAF Academy


Memberships:

AAS Fellow
AIAA – Associate Fellow
Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society)
USAFA Association of Graduates
The Military Officers Association of America


Awards:

STK Certified Rocket Scientist, AGI.; Inventor’s Award, The Aerospace Corporation; Wall Of Fame, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School; 5 USAF Scientific Achievement Awards; USAF Research and Development Award; AFSC Frank J. Seiler Award for Research Excellence; Distinguished Graduate, AF Institute of Technology; Distinguished Graduate, USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training; & Top Academic Award Recipient, USAF Undergraduate Pilot Training.


Certifications:

DoD Acquisition Professional Development Program Systems Planning, Research, Development, and Engineering, Level III; Test and Evaluation, Level I; & Program Management, Level I.


Patents:
6694283 - Eigenvalue quadric surface method for determining when two ellipsoids share common volume for use in spatial collision detection and avoidance
7383153 - Method for determining maximum conjunction probability of rectangular-shaped objects
8041509 - System and method of addressing nonlinear relative motion for collision probability using parallelepipeds
8275498 - System and method for assessing the risk of conjunction of a rocket body with orbiting and non- orbiting platforms
8494688 - System and method for detection of anti- satellite vulnerability of an orbiting platform
10293959 - Probability and frequency of orbital encounters
10551994 - Probability of Collision Bounding Surfaces
10558320 - Probability of Collision Topology

Notable Experience:
USAF instructor pilot with 2,600 flying hours in various aircraft to include gliders, single-engine Cessnas, 200-passenger intercontinental jets, and the supersonic jet utilized by the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron.

EXPERTISE


THOUGHT LEADERSHIP


Operators’ Requirements for SSA Services
Comparison of predicted and observed spacecraft encounters from Russian ASAT test
Assessing passive radar for LEO SSA
Space Traffic Management: On the topics of Data Fusion and Shared Catalogs
SPACE TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT TERMINOLOGY
Russian ASAT Debris Cloud Evolution and Risk
Evaluation of LEO conjunction rates using historical flight safety systems and analytical algorithms
Innovative LCOLA tool prioritizing accuracy, launch access and efficiency
Recommendations of the IAF Space Traffic Management Terminology Working Group
SSA positional and dimensional accuracy requirements for Space Traffic Coordination and Management
Risk Assessment of Recent High-Interest Conjunctions
Results of comprehensive STCM data fusion experiment
Risk Assessment of Recent High-Interest Conjunctions
The contributions of commercial best practices to the global space governance continuum
Space Governance in the New Space Era
Book Chapter for A Closer Look at Space Debris: “Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management”
LEO constellation encounter and collision rate estimation: an update
The cost of not doing debris remediation
Characterizing the India ASAT Debris Evolution Using Diverse, Complementary Tools
The technical challenges of better Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management
Debris Risk Evolution And Dispersal (DREAD) for post-fragmentation modeling
Practical considerations and a realistic framework for a Space Traffic Management system
The Need for Comparative SSA
Volumetric assessment of satellite encounter rates
The evolution of the CCSS Orbit Data Messages
The “We” Approach to Space Traffic Management
Fragmentation event debris field evolution using 3d volumetric risk assessment
A comprehensive assessment of collision likelihood in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit
Probability of Collision: Valuation, variability, visualization, and validity
Full characterization of satellite conjunction walk-ins
Sample evaluation criteria for space traffic management systems
A comprehensive assessment of collision likelihood in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit
Application of New Debris Risk Evolution And Dissipation (DREAD) Tool to Characterize Post-Fragmentation Risk
Status of the ISO space debris mitigation standards (2017)
Collision risk in low earth orbit
Probability of Collision: Valuation, Variability, Visualization, and Validity
Using space population models to generate representative space object catalogs
Efficient solutions of kepler’s equation via hybrid and digital approaches
Volumetric encounter analysis enhancements
Parametric Characterization of SGP4 Theory and TLE Positional Accuracy
Multi-Phenomenology Observation Network Evaluation Tool (MONET)
Volumetric Assessment of Encounter Probability
Efficient Solutions of Kepler’s Equation Via Hybrid and Digital Approaches
Standardization by ISO to ensure the sustainability of space activities
Effective Strategies for Satellite Communications RFI Mitigation
Space Standards Establish Norms for Space Operations
Maneuver event detection and reconstruction using body-centric acceleration/jerk optimization
An Evaluation of CubeSat Orbital Decay
Determination of orbit cross-tag events and maneuvers with Orbit Detective
Ephemeris Requirements for Space Situational Awareness
AstroHD™: Astrodynamics Modeling With a Distinctly Digital Flavor
Analysis of the response of a space surveillance network to orbital debris events
Standardized Approaches for Estimating Orbit Lifetime after End-of-Life


Five featured in Acta Astronautica:
"Risk assessment of recent high-interest conjunctions"
"Volumetric assessment of satellite encounter rates"
"Probability of Collision: Valuation, Variability, Visualization, and Validity"
"A comprehensive assessment of collision likelihood in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit"
"On selecting satellite conjunction filter parameters"

Nine featured in AAS Journal of the Astronautical Sciences:
"Operators’ Requirements for SSA Services"
"Eliminating Assumptions Regarding Satellite Conjunction Analysis"
"Relating Position Uncertainty to Maximum Conjunction Probability"
"A Numerical Implementation of Spherical Object Collision Probability"
"Determining Satellite Close Approaches, Part II"
"Circle-to-Circle Constant-Thrust Orbit-Raising"
"Determining Satellite Close Approaches"
"The Method of Ratios"
"Rapid Determination of Satellite Visibility Periods"

Five featured in AIAA Journal of Spacecraft and Rockets:
"Rapid Generation of Site/Satellite Timetables"
"Complete Method of Ratios"
"Determining A Probability-Based Distance Threshold For Conjunction Screening"
"Assessing the Instantaneous Risk of Direct Laser Impingement"
"Predictive Avoidance for Ground-Based Laser Illumination"

Three featured in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy:
"Curvilinear coordinate transformations for relative motion"
"Toroidal Path Filter For Orbital Conjunction Screening"
"Ballistic Representation for Kinematic Access"

Five featured in AIAA Journal of Guidance, Control, and Dynamics:
"Determining if Two Solid Ellipsoids Intersect"
"Optimal Many Revolution Orbit Transfer"
"Satellite Collision Probability Enhancements"
"Two Variations of Certainty Control"
"Hypervelocity Orbital Intercept Guidance Using Certainty Control"

Journal of Space Safety Engineering:
"The technical challenges of better Space Situational Awareness and Space Traffic Management”

AIAA Journal of Aircraft:
"Fitting Atmospheric Parameters Using Parabolic Blending"

Journal of the Evans & Sutherland Users Group:
"Computer-Aided Instruction in an Astronautical Engineering Curriculum"
"Hypervelocity Orbital Intercept Guidance," Dissertation, UCCS
"MMU Task Simulator," USAFA TR 86-2
"STS Task Simulator," USAFA TR 85-12
"Low Thrust Orbit Transfer," Thesis, AFIT/FA/AA.82D-2


Standards considerations for a space domain where humans will travel to, live in, and work.
Comparison of predicted and observed spacecraft encounters from Russian ASAT test
Space Situational Awareness from the Commercial Perspective: COMSPOC, SDA, and SSC
Identifying Critical LEO Kinetic Space Safety Activities
Keeping Space Sustainable for current and future generations
Space Traffic Management: On the topics of Data Fusion and Shared Catalogs
Maintaining safe and efficient use of space in the New Space era
ASATS and Conjunction Squalls and New Space - - Oh My!
ASAT tests: Adverse implications to operators and the space environment
Spacecraft brightness: Best practices, guidelines and impact on Space Situational Awareness
Examining the risk posed by debris from ASAT tests in space
Space debris as a backdrop for Space Domain Awareness
Data Integrity Aspects of Flight Safety
Russian ASAT Test: Implications to Operators and the Space Environment
Considerations for Space Traffic Management
Efficient assessment of long-term encounter rates with CSSI’s volumetric encounter method
International, Inter-Agency and space industrial leadership roles impacting space operations
Russian ASAT Debris Cloud Evolution and Risk
Evaluation of LEO conjunction rates using historical flight safety systems and analytical algorithms
Innovative LCOLA tool prioritizing accuracy, launch access and efficiency
Recommendations of the IAF Space Traffic Management Terminology Working Group
SSA positional and dimensional accuracy requirements for Space Traffic Coordination and Management
Results of comprehensive STCM data fusion experiment
Space Traffic Coordination and Management Special Session
Risk Assessment of Recent High-Interest Conjunctions
The contributions of commercial best practices to the global space governance continuum
The Space Data Center’s decade of Safety of Flight Services: Contributions to Space Traffic Management
LEO constellation encounter and collision rate estimation: an update
The cost of not doing debris remediation
Characterizing the India ASAT Debris Evolution Using Diverse, Complementary Tools
Debris Risk Evolution And Dispersal (DREAD) for post-fragmentation modeling
Practical considerations and a realistic framework for a Space Traffic Management system
The Need for Comparative SSA
Regulatory evaluation of a large constellation: The SpaceX case study
The “We” Approach to Space Traffic Management
The evolution of the CCSS Orbit Data Messages
Fragmentation event debris field evolution using 3d volumetric risk assessment
Full characterization of satellite conjunction walk-ins
Sample evaluation criteria for space traffic management systems
A comprehensive assessment of collision likelihood in Geosynchronous Earth Orbit
Application of New Debris Risk Evolution And Dissipation (DREAD) Tool to Characterize Post-Fragmentation Risk
Collision risk in low earth orbit
Probability of Collision: Valuation, Variability, Visualization, and Validity
The myths and realities of CubeSat collision risk
Using space population models to generate representative space object catalogs
Space Monitoring Presentation: Improved SSA & RFI Mitigation via COMSPOC
Volumetric encounter analysis enhancements
Improving SSA With COMSPOC, Data Fusion and Best Practices
Parametric Characterization of SGP4 Theory and TLE Positional Accuracy
Multi-Phenomenology Observation Network Evaluation Tool (MONET)
Volumetric Assessment of Encounter Probability
QB50 Proposed Deployment ConOps
Efficient Solutions of Kepler’s Equation Via Hybrid and Digital Approaches
Standardization by ISO to ensure the sustainability of space activities
Framework for Informed and Actionable SSA
Effective Strategies for Satellite Communications RFI Mitigation
Space debris observation needs for actionable SSA
Maneuver event detection and reconstruction using body-centric acceleration/jerk optimization
An Evaluation of CubeSat Orbital Decay
Determination of orbit cross-tag events and maneuvers with Orbit Detective
Space Data Actionability Metrics for SSA
Ephemeris Requirements for Space Situational Awareness
RF Interference Inferences Using Antenna Patterns
AstroHD™: Astrodynamics Modeling With a Distinctly Digital Flavor
Analysis of the response of a space surveillance network to orbital debris events
Standardized Approaches for Estimating Orbit Lifetime after End-of-Life

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