Space Systems Prototype Transitions (SSPT)

Abstract

The Space System Prototype Transition (SSPT) Program will identify and address space technology and capability gaps in order to facilitate technology transition to military space prototypes and programs of record. It will conduct a wide array of activities to model, integrate, test, and provide launch integration and support on-orbit testing of prototype technologies. The supported activities include: systems engineering, technology planning, development, demonstrations and testing, as well as modeling, simulations and exercises to support the development and maturation of tactics and procedures. This includes the development and prototyping of critical technology within the Department of Defense, across other government agencies, academic institutions and industry partners that are identified and the necessary systems engineering to effectively employ such systems. Specifically the SSPT Program establishes a cost-effective framework to identify, mature and transition demonstrations and prototypes to: -Rapidly address identified technology or capability gaps -Accelerate the maturation of systems intended for demonstrations/prototypes that enhance/compliment/replace an existing capability -Support a more reliable, available, maintainable and survivable military space enterprise -Energize the space industrial base supporting U.S. national security -Focus S&T Innovation and facilitate its transition to military space programs of record This program includes projects for Long Duration Propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA) (LDPE) and its follow-on activities called Rapid On-Orbit Space Technology Evaluation Ring (ROOSTER), Tetra, Blackjack, Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS)-Hosted Payload (HP), Military Application of the Space Environment (MASE), Space Combat Cloud, Digital Engineering Interconnected, Cloud-based Ecosystem (DEICE) Tech Stack, and Assault Breaker II (ABII). LDPE and ROOSTER provide a low-cost, rapid, and flexible on-orbit capability to host and deploy numerous prototypes and payloads utilizing excess payload margin available on US Space Force (USSF) launch missions. Each LDPE/ROOSTER on-orbit platform is currently designed to fly multiple payloads per mission, thus fully utilizing launch potential and providing the only recurring rideshare option for prototypes and experiments to geosynchronous orbit. The LDPE acquisition baseline includes the following mission scope: LDPE-1, -2 and -3A. All missions beyond LDPE-3A are planned as part of ROOSTER activities. The objectives of the ROOSTER project are to rapidly and cost-effectively enable on-orbit checkout and testing of prototypes and demonstration payloads and to mature operational concepts and Techniques, Tactics and Procedures (TTPs) for future use in the USSF space enterprise architecture. Tetra is a project that will provide a training platform for operators to develop and demonstrate TTPs for pathfinder mission sets. This project directly supports the evolution of operations to include space situational awareness and control in alignment with objectives from organizations such as the National Space Test and Training Center (NSTTC) and USSF Test and Evaluation (TE). Blackjack is a joint technology demonstration project led by DARPA and the Space Force to evaluate military utility and concepts of operation for a Proliferated Low Earth Orbit (P-LEO) satellite constellation. The project leverages industry innovation in commercial P-LEO concepts by integrating military payloads onboard commercial commoditized satellite vehicles, demonstrating onboard data processing and autonomous tasking, and transmitting encrypted data through a mesh network of satellites in LEO with the goals of augmenting existing warfighter capability, increasing national security space resiliency, and decreasing per-unit satellite costs. QZSS-HP is a "pacesetter” hosted payload that is a high priority for the U.S. and Japan, paving the way for future Allied collaborations. It enhances Geostationary Earth Orbit (GEO) Space Domain Awareness (SDA) capabilities over the Eurasian theater and facilitates resilient capabilities in the Space Surveillance Network (SSN). MASE effort will demonstrate mature space environment technology to improve combat operations. MASE will enhance regional ionospheric specification (nowcasts) and predictions (forecasts) affecting signal propagation paths. MASE uses traditional and non-traditional ionospheric measurements in advanced space environment models to forecast and predict impacts to weapon systems. It contributes to satisfying Gaps 4 and 7 of the Space-Based Environment Monitoring (SBEM) requirements. In FY 2021, Congress transferred FY 2021 funds from Air Force to Space Force appropriations to fix an appropriation error. Space Combat Cloud activity includes enterprise standards definition and synchronizes space-to-space C2 needs across the space community. Activity also includes technology maturation, network definition and prototype planning. DEICE Tech Stack is a New Start in FY 2023. Prototypes and develops the Space Force Digital Engineering Ecosystem (DEE) as a cloud-based, remotely accessible, multilevel security, interconnected infrastructure, providing the technical methodology used to store, access, analyze, and visualize evolving systems' data and models throughout systems' acquisition lifecycles. ABII is an all-Service, classified, multi-year effort, led by DARPA, to analyze, research, and recommend material and non-material all domain counter-anti-access/area denial solutions to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC). Space acquisition must respond with speed and agility to emerging adversary threats. Space Systems Command (SSC) has transformed the organization and implementation of space acquisition to an enterprise approach, maximizing innovation and resiliency, leveraging international, commercial, and mission partnerships, and managing program/project priorities according to an integrated unclassified/classified enterprise space architecture. Expanding the appropriate acquisition authorities and contract mechanisms to deliver capability sooner, SSC will strategically execute experimentation, prototyping, risk reduction, and other efforts to develop new or repurpose existing capabilities. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver SSPT capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392SF and 1206398SF. 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, 2023
• Source ID: 1206427SF_4_3620F_PB_2023
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2021: -4.999M; SBIR reduction. FY 2021: +17.200M; Above Threshold Reprogramming (ATR) to address COVID-19 impacts and cost increases to Space Domain Awareness (SDA) sensor development as well as to support the initial stand up of the Assault Breaker II initiative. FY 2022: -15.000M; Congressional Directed Reduction for ROOSTER development delay FY 2022: +5.000M; Congressional Add for Space Combat Cloud FY 2023: The FY 2022 President's Budget submittal did not reflect FY 2023 through FY 2026 funding. Therefore, an explanation of the change between the two budget positions for FY2023 cannot be made in a relevant manner.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Artificial Satellites
• Command And Control
• Digital Engineering
• Earth Orbits
• Geosynchronous Orbits
• Low Earth Orbits
• Military Applications
• Model Based Systems Engineering
• Product Development
• Satellite Buses
• Satellite Constellations
• Situational Awareness
• Space Situational Awareness
• Space Systems
• Spacecraft
• Systems Engineering
• Test And Evaluation

Readers

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

Technology Areas

• Space
• Space - Satellites