Project JUNO

Description

The JUNO mission is one of the space missions of the MINERVA programme. The Authority expects the JUNO R&D satellite to enable MOD to advance UK MOD-owned space-based ISR (SBISR) capability, providing electro-optical imagery to UK and allied researchers, to enhance UK SBISR expertise, credibility and interoperability. Lot 1: Background: In support of the UK Defence Space Strategy, the Integrated Space Game Changer (ISGC) outlines the need for the UK to have “a secure, robust, resilient, integrated Space domain information architecture to operate within and utilise information from the Space domain to maximise the utility of the Space domain and protect it and our information from the adversary”. The foundations of this ISGC architecture will be developed and delivered under the MINERVA Programme. The MINERVA Research and Development (R&D) programme will demonstrate Tasking, Collection, Processing and Dissemination of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) data from space through the development, delivery and operation of satellites. The JUNO mission is one of the space missions of the MINERVA programme. The Authority expects the JUNO R&D satellite to enable MOD to advance UK MOD-owned space-based ISR (SBISR) capability, providing electro-optical imagery to UK and allied researchers, to enhance UK SBISR expertise, credibility and interoperability. The JUNO satellite will include a high resolution electro-optical imager to deliver SBISR to support Defence activities. The JUNO satellite will be capable of demonstrating the ability to be integrated into MOD’s ISTARI ground architecture and to be capable of demonstrating interoperability with Allied ground assets. The JUNO satellite will investigate and demonstrate the ability to conduct multiple mission sets within the bounds of the satellite capabilities and without compromising the SBISR mission. The JUNO satellite could enable greater data delivery and processing through Inter-Satellite links and On-Board Processors. The JUNO satellite provides an opportunity to establish use cases in support of the Defence Space Strategy’s SDA direction towards detection, tracking, characterisation and attribution of Resident Space Objects (RSO’s) to provide an increased understanding of the domain and threats to UK critical systems. The JUNO high resolution electro-optical imaging satellite has the potential to be utilised for multiple space missions including a secondary Space Domain Awareness (SDA) mission to provide resolved space-to-space imagery to demonstrate characterization capabilities against other RSO’s in different orbital regimes. Hosted SDA payloads on-board the JUNO satellite could enable development of the UK’s SDA capability. Aims: The JUNO System aims are expressed as four high level goals: • Goal 1: Develop, launch and operate a UK-MOD owned electro-optical satellite within budget and schedule constraints. • Goal 2: Demonstrate collaborative Space ISR development and operation with allies. • Goal 3: Enable UK access and utilisation of Allied space systems ground architectures as a demonstrator for military operations. • Goal 4: Investigate the ability to utilize hosted payloads that would expand the mission set that the satellite could be used for. Within these goals a high priority for the JUNO system is the ability to collect panchromatic and multispectral data on an area of interest specified by Authority Users and to then process and deliver the data to the Authority to required standards with operational freedom of action. A second high priority for the system is its ability to perform R&D which will inform subsequent options analysis and future development. Further options will include mission operations, training and support (per year) for a further 6 years; mission integration and implementation to the ground architecture; further details will be in the ITN. For further information on the ISTARI Programme, see “Defence Space Strategy: Operationalising the Space Domain”,, UK Gov, Feb 22 , and “Press Release: UK cutting-edge space defence backed by £1.4 billion”, UK”, UK Gov, 1 Feb 22. The JUNO procurement will be run at OFFICIAL SENSITIVE up to and including SECRET. The potential provider must have the ability to process, store and transmit classified information at OFFI