Space Technology Development and Prototyping

Abstract

SDA is responsible for developing and demonstrating the next generation proliferated warfighter space architecture to enable U.S. military operations to be responsive to emerging multi-domain threats against our national security. To achieve that goal, SDA will help inform the Department of Defense (DoD)'s decision to develop and implement a proliferated architecture enabled by lower-cost, mass-produced space vehicles and routine space access; and shift the DoD to a development organization focused on experimentation, prototyping, and accelerated fielding. SDA will manage, direct, and execute the development of the space capabilities for the joint warfighter in accordance with DoD's Space Vision and field space capabilities at speed and scale, with the following goals: • Bold breakthroughs designed to out-pace our competitors, • Mission-focused technology maturation and systems engineering, • Value-based lean engineering, manufacturing, and support, • Warfighter-centric capability development enabling joint all-domain operations, • Industrial base expansion; streamlined development and acquisition processes, and • Increased acquisition cooperation across the space enterprise. SDA will rapidly deploy critical elements of next-generation space capabilities, initially focusing on these essential capabilities: • Indications, warnings, targeting, and tracking for defense against advanced missile threats, • Alternate position, navigation, and timing (PNT) for a navigation warfare (NAVWAR) resilient environment, • Responsive, resilient, common ground-based space support infrastructure (e.g., optical and RF ground stations and commercially-oriented satellite operations centers), • Cross-domain, networked, node-independent battle management command, control, and communications (BMC3), and • Highly-scaled, low-latency, persistent, resilient proliferated Low Earth Orbit (LEO) space data transport. The establishment of a proliferated data transport layer in LEO is essential to developing a new, responsive space architecture, and will be SDA's primary initial focus within the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA). SDA will develop an initial set of sub-constellations in conjunction with this Transport Layer to provide additional capabilities, such as advanced missile warning and tactical satellite communications. This program element funds efforts to develop and demonstrate a prototype proliferated Low Earth Orbit (pLEO) communications and data transport layer and its sub-constellations in support of the DoD Space Vision. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses and contractor support required to facilitate delivery of the Transport capability. This effort is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P), because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 1206410SF_4_3620F_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: The worked performed in this program element is a continuation of efforts that in FY 2022 are funded in Appropriation 0400, RDT&E, Defense-Wide, BA 4, PE 1206410SDA. FY 2023 Congressional marks resulted in a net gain of $29.0M. Project 643731 (Transport) was increased by $4.0M to support the space architecture experimental testbed and increased by $25.0M to support laser communication downlink systems demonstrating space-to-air and space-to-ground data transport capabilities. FY 2023 Congressional marks also included $22.5M for Tranche 1 Space Resiliency Payloads, but the funds were realigned to RDT&E, BA 5, PE 1206446SF. FY 2024 increases for Tranche 1 and Tranche 2 advanced component development and prototyping, and includes a budget realignment from RDT&E, PE 1206310SF, to support those activities.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Artificial Satellites
• Command And Control
• Data Links
• Data Processing
• Department Of Defense
• Earth Orbits
• Low Earth Orbits
• Manufacturing
• National Security
• Procurement
• Satellite Communications
• Satellite Constellations
• Space Systems
• Spacecraft
• Systems Engineering
• Three Dimensional
• Verification Tests

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.

Technology Areas

• Space
• Space - Satellites