Since many people with distinct specialties are involved in identifying and classifying a space asset attack, the team created two different humansystem interfaces, one tailored for satellite/network engineers and space weather experts and a second geared towards satellite operators and threat analysts (see Figure 2). They developed the two displays according to each group’s unique information needs and work habits and also designed in a certain level of user customization. The team gave each group a drill-down capability, which permits users to locate information at different levels within the system architecture. This capacity to access progressively detailed information provides historical context for data and also capitalizes on a given user’s specific expertise. For example, a satellite telemetry interruption may actually stem from ground source interference rather than a satellite disruption. A threat analyst may actually have relevant knowledge of network operations—knowledge that may help him or her identify the cause even before it becomes evident to engineers. The research team is exploring future capabilities that include (1) drill down on real data for validation, (2) advanced visualization, (3) additional data sources, (4) interactive playback, and (5) enhanced assessment.

Mr. John Ianni, of the Air Force Research Laborator y’s Human Effectiveness Directorate, and Mr. Paul Zetocha, of the Air Force Research Laboratory’s Space Vehicles Directorate, wrote this article. For more information, visit http://www.afrl.af.mil/techconn_index.asp. Reference document HE-H-06-03.