AF Funded ORSSats

Abstract

In FY 2021, PE 1206857F, Space Rapid Capabilities Office efforts were transferred to Appropriation 3620, Research, Development, Test & Evaluation, Space Force, PE 1206857SF, Space Rapid Capabilities Office from Appropriation 3600, Budget Activity 04 due to the creation of a new Appropriation for Space Force. The Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Space RCO) mission is to expedite the development and fielding of operationally focused capabilities for immediate and near-term needs as directed by the Space RCO Board of Directors (BoD). Key operating principles include a short and narrow chain of command, overarching programmatic insight, early and prominent war fighter involvement, and small integrated teams within a single office to rapidly augment existing space capabilities when needed, to expand operational capability, reconstitute/replenish/protect critical space capabilities to reserve "continuity of operations" capability, and exploit space technological or operational innovations to increase U.S. advantage. The Space RCO is ready to develop, test, train, and equip war fighter needs as they are identified at any time. First, the requirements must be validated by the commander, USSTRATCOM, acting through U.S. Space Command; second, the project must be approved by the Space RCO BoD; third, the project will be executed by the Space RCO. If the effort is initiated during execution year, it will be described in the next year's budget exhibit. Space RCO is supporting the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) developed Space Solar Power project to collect solar energy and provide uninterrupted, assured, and logistically agile power to expeditionary forces operating in unimproved areas such as forward operating bases. AFRL formulated the Space Solar Power Incremental Demonstrations and Research (SSPIDR) project to rapidly demonstrate this innovative technology via a series of Integrated Demos and Technology Development/Maturation efforts. Space RCO is supporting Special Operations Forces-Space (SOF-Space) for Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) until it's transferred to JSOC in FY 2021. SOF developments include visionary, tailored, and future Space/Cyber projects as well as to plan, develop, test and transition advanced technologies into space system prototypes and capabilities to meet known and emerging threats. Conduct architecture studies, modeling and simulation, technical development, integration and test activities in preparation for transition of critical technologies into prototype or space program of record. In addition, Space RCO will conduct studies and analysis for future programs to support the BoD. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Space RCO weapon system capabilities. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program elements 1206392F and 1206398F. 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: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 64A020_1206857F_4_3600_PB_2021

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering.

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Space
• Space - Satellites