Rapid Global Mobility Through Space
Abstract
Global mobility is a capability that sets the United States apart from any near-peer adversary. The ability to project American power or respond to a humanitarian crisis anywhere in the world is unmatched. Rapid global mobility through space can greatly enhance this capability. The traditional barriers to space travel of cost, reliability, and payload capacity are quickly being overcome by innovation across the space industry. Over the last decade, the cost-per-pound of payload has decreased by an order of magnitude and continues with a downward trajectory. Costs will continue to fall as reusable vehicles come more prevalent and the rate of flight increases. There is an instrinsic cost savings by taking delivery time from days using traditional methods to minutes using space vehicles. Government and private industry's desire to increase reliability and develop technology can be an opportunity for the DoD to become a viable customer. An increase in launch vehicle payload capacity is occurring from the desire for travel to Mars and deep space. Analysis showed that a significant amount of equivalent strategic airlift capacity can be gained by using point-to-point delivery of cargo by heavy-lift launch vehicles currently in development. This technology can be leveraged not only for emergency situations that warrant a rapid delivery but possibly for the routine cargo missions as costs continue to decrease. The ability to move people and cargo anywhere in the world in less than an hour will provide an unmatched strategic advantage.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 15, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1068864
Entities
People
- Stephen J. Koether
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology