How US Air Force Space Command Optimizes Long-Term Investment in Space Systems

Abstract

United States Air Force Space Command spends billions of dollars each year acquiring and developing launch vehicles and space systems. The space systems in orbit must continually meet defensive and offensive requirements and remain interoperable over time. Space Command can launch additional space systems only if it has a launch vehicle of sufficient capability. Space planners using space and missile optimization analysis (SAMOA) consider a 24-year time horizon when determining which space assets and launch vehicles to fund and procure. A key tool within SAMOA is an integer linear program called the space command optimizer of utility toolkit (SCOUT) that Space Command uses for long-range planning. SCOUT gives planners insight into the annual funding profiles needed to meet Space Command's acquisition goals. The 1999 portfolio of 74 systems will cost about $310 billion and includes systems that can lift satellites into orbit; yield information on space, surface, and subsurface events, activities, and threats; and destroy terrestrial, airborne, and space targets.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 2003
Accession Number
ADA487384

Entities

People

  • Alexandra M. Newman
  • Gerald G. Jerry Brown
  • Heath Holtz
  • Robert F. Dell

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Artificial Satellites
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Guided Bombs
  • Information Systems
  • Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles
  • Investments
  • Launch Vehicles
  • Military Science
  • Operations Research
  • Payload
  • Radar
  • Space Operations
  • Space Systems
  • United States
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.
  • Public Financial Management and Budgeting

Technology Areas

  • Space