AF Funded ORSSats

Abstract

The successful integration of space-based capabilities into the core of U.S. national security operations has resulted in dramatically increased demand for and dependence upon space capabilities. As a result, U.S. Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) identified three needs: 1) to rapidly augment existing space capabilities when needed to expand operational capability; 2) to rapidly reconstitute/replenish critical space capabilities to preserve "continuity of operations" capability; 3) to rapidly exploit and infuse space technological or operational innovations to increase U.S. advantage. Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) projects are optimized for prioritized theater use and/or surge, augmentation and replenishment of traditional space capabilities. The ORS Concept of Operations (CONOPS) drives the need for satellites featuring high degrees of modularity, standard interface vehicles, and the use of plug and play payloads and buses. ORS-1, launched 29 Jun 2011 to respond to U.S. Central Command's urgent need, validated by USSTRATCOM, to provide intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) for theater warfighters out-lived its two year design life by over three years, but has finally ended. The ORS Office is responding to another USSTRATCOM validated urgent need for an interim capability addressing weather gap 1 (cloud characterization) and gap 2 (theater weather imagery) with ORS-8. If requested, the ORS Office is ready to develop, test, train, and equip urgent needs of the warfighter. ORS projects provide a broad range of capabilities directly supporting warfighter needs. Potential missions include communications; data exfiltration; blue/friendly force situational awareness; maritime domain awareness; positioning, navigation, and timing; weather; missile warning; and battlefield ISR. The highest priorities of the ORS Office are development and launch of the ORS-5 USSTRATCOM validated urgent need for space situational awareness, development and launch of the ORS-6 Compact Ocean Wind Vector Radiometer (COWVR) technology demonstration, and the low cost automated manufacturing initiative, ORS-7. The remaining priorities for the ORS office are to satisfy the high priority needs for augmentation and reconstitution, such as Missile Warning, Wideband Protected Communication, Narrowband Communication, Space Situational Awareness, and Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) imagery. Additional ORS Office efforts include maturing enabling elements which are transitioned as appropriate across the National Space Enterprise and allows the ORS Office to meet the USSTRATCOM specified responsiveness timelines and the 2007 NDAA goal ($40M satellites/$20M launches). This includes authenticating commercial space parts, confirming automated assembly lines, validating digital mission assurance processes, developing a modular open system architecture employing plug and play standards, and providing assembly, integration & test in the Rapid Response Space Works. It also includes integrating with the Multi-Mission Satellite Operations Center (MMSOC) and Enterprise Ground Service (EGS) to proliferate common satellite command and control. Additional developments include visionary, tailored, and future Space/Cyber projects to special operations forces (SOF). This program is in Budget Activity 04, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes, because the efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2018
• Source ID: 64A020_1206857F_4_3600_PB_2018

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.
• Enterprise Information Systems Architecture and Joint Command Capability Interoperability Support.
• Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space
• Space - Satellites