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), 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, demonstrations, 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 enable rapid and cost-effective technology insertion into operational program of records through the on-orbit checkout and testing of prototypes, demonstrations and experimental payloads. Additionally, ROOSTER will work to mature operational concepts and Techniques, Tactics and Procedures (TTPs), such as on-obit refueling, for use within 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. Collaborative missions include developing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) payloads. 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). 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 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. In FY 2024, this activity has transferred to PE 1203010SF, Space Force Information Technology (IT), Data Analysis, Digital Solutions, project 645620, Digital Engineering to improve transparency. Space-to-Space Communications activity includes development of communications technologies to synchronize space-to-space C2 and data transport needs across the space community and enable system agnostic communication pathways via a mobile ad-hoc network. 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, 2024
• Source ID: 1206427SF_4_3620F_PB_2024
• Change Summary Explanation: FY 2022: -2.634M; SBIR Reduction. FY 2022: +12.316M; Above Threshold Reprogramming (ATR) to address disconnects associated with LDPE-2, BLACKJACK and TETRA. FY 2023: +10.000M; Space to Space Communications FY 2023: +5.000M; Rapid prototyping and space qualification of emerging CubeSat technologies FY 2023: +50.000M; On-Board Resiliency FY 2023: -4.875M; SBIR Reduction FY 2024: -0.723M; to realign funding to Appropriation 3410, PE 1207804SF (SAG 13C), for fiscal policy compliance as Space Systems Command (SSC) establishes Headquarters functions and a Chief Information Office (CIO) for integrated cybersecurity. FY 2024: -13.832M; transfer DE Tech Stack to Space Force IT PE 1203010SF.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Engineered Resilient Systems (Alumni COI)
• Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Ad Hoc Networks
• Artificial Satellites
• Command And Control
• Digital Engineering
• Earth Orbits
• Geosynchronous Orbits
• Information Systems
• Low Earth Orbits
• Mesh Networks
• Model Based Systems Engineering
• Product Development
• Satellite Constellations
• Software Prototyping
• 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