Unified Data Library (UDL) will be the single source for accessing and managing all data in
support of USSF operational systems. Additionally, the memorandum notes that the UDL will provide a central
location to find and access data, enabling superior analytics through data integration and the strengthening of
data security and trust.
Today, the UDL operates at the unclassified, Secret, and Top Secret levels. Those instantiations are live today
while a Special Access Program (SAP) repository is currently under development. The multiple classification
instances of the UDL are synchronized in near real time. The UDL is hosted in a single Amazon Web Service
(AWS) region, but hosted across 3 availability zones for unclassified, and two availability zones for Secret and
Top Secret. The public endpoint automatically switches if any availability zone goes down.
To create an account and access the UDL, you can visit the URL below.
https://unifieddatalibrary.com/storefront
Once you have created an account, to request data source integration with the UDL you can submit a data
onboarding form. Once logged on, click the person icon in the bottom left of the page, then click “contribute
data to the UDL.”
Additionally, UDL API formats and schemas are kept in the Storefront at this location:
https://unifieddatalibrary.com/storefront/#/openapi
Currently, there are more than 30 API services for manipulation and querying of specific data sets.
To serve the wide variety of users and use-cases, the UDL has developed several different data distribution
mechanisms to include:
1) REST API: Most commonly used service for users or processes that need data to support some specific
analytical function
2) History REST API: Optimized for access to historically archived data in support of forensic analysis.
3) Bulk Data Request API: Preferred for Big-Data and AI data needs that require large volumes of data.
Allows for synchronous data requests that notify the user via email or text message upon completion;
supports CSV and JSON output formats.
4) Secure messaging: Allows for easy-to-implement real-time data streaming. The caller queries the offset
for a particular service. The caller then uses that offset to query the topic and retrieve data.
Additionally, there are several labeled datasets on the UDL today. To access these datasets, under the Provider
Discovery portal on UDL, click on SSC, then find SatNet and request access. For FOUO access, log into the UDL
with a CAC. The data sets include annotated, rate-tracked GEO-targeted Resident Space Object (RSO) sky
images. The objects were collected from four Raven-class sensors, from three locations, over two years.
Additionally, there are labeled simulated sky images from AFRL’s SatSim tool, of annotated breakup and
collision RSOs in LEO, MEO, and GEO data.