Spacelift 2025 The Supporting Pillar for Space Superiority

Abstract

The US spacelift system in 2025 focuses on routine operations. The research and development (R&D) mentality of past spacelift programs is replaced by the aircraft-like operations of a fully reusable spacelift system operated by both commercial industry and a US spacelift wing. Though developed primarily as a practical and affordable alternative for orbital access, the multipurpose transatmospheric vehicle (MTV) is expanded into force-enhancing missions like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), global mobility, and strike. MTV becomes the strategic strike platform of 2025. It can be flown manned or unmanned, depending on mission requirements, but it is primarily used in the unmanned mode. With the capability to accomplish the earth-to-orbit (ETO) mission as well as these other earth-to-earth (ETE) missions efficiently, the MTV is a flexible platform which strengthens all air-and space-core competencies. MTV is complemented by the orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) for space orbital missions. After MTVs park satellites in low orbits, OTVs provide the additional thrust needed to push the payloads into higher energy orbits. OTVs also facilitate the maintenance of satellites in orbit by retrieving existing platforms for repair, refueling, or rearming. Finally, OTVs give the spacelift system a rapid orbital sortie capability for deterrence, space control, reconnaissance, counterspace, and force application. This paper recommends Air Force support for NASA's x-33 transatmospheric reusability demonstration and investment in a follow-on military MTV and an initial OTV using today's technologies. Once routine operations are institutionalized with these first generation reusable systems, propulsion and material technology should be infused to provide a more capable system. This paper recommends avid support of R&D funding needed to provide these technological advances.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA392963

Entities

People

  • Bruce M. Juselis
  • Henry D. Baird
  • Mark J. Hellstern
  • Steven D. Acenbrak
  • William J. Harding

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Airframes
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Astronautics
  • Control Systems
  • Engineers
  • Materials Laboratories
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • National Security
  • Payload
  • Space Systems
  • Space Transportation
  • Spacecraft
  • Thermal Propulsion Systems

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Space
  • Space - Satellites