The Space Maneuver Vehicle: Enhancing Space's Utility to the Warfighter
Abstract
Space is a critical enabler for our military force. Current space systems, however, have significant deficiencies in the ability to provide Space Superiority (the purpose of space control) and lack operational responsiveness. The rapid response, quick turnaround, and high on-orbit maneuverability of the Space Maneuver Vehicle can correct these shortfalls; it provides space asset protection that enables U.S. forces to achieve and maintain Space Superiority. Its ability to co-orbit with friendly space assets and provide on-orbit servicing and repair will extend the service life of other satellites. The ability to deploy SMVs with a mix of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) payloads will provide an affordable, responsive and sustained presence to support diverse theaters of operation. The ability to integrate, operate, and recover and reuse the SMV with a variety of onboard or deployed payloads provides operational flexibility heretofore unattainable with traditional satellites. Finally, the SMV's operational flexibility will provide an opportunity fundamentally change the command and control of space systems in order to push control down to the theater CINC thus allowing the true integration of space into theater operations.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA404007
Entities
People
- Stephen L. Davis
Organizations
- Marine Corps University