Utilizing the High Altitude Airspace
Abstract
Within U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT), we focus daily upon providing space enablers to the Warfighter. Within the pages of the Army Space Journal, we've touched many times upon the subject of space enablers (Communications; Position, velocity, and timing; Environmental monitoring (space and terrestrial weather); Intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance; and Theater missile warning). We've also discussed in detail our space- and terrestrial-based capabilities for providing and/or supporting these vital mission areas. During the course of our discussions, we often overlook 265,000 feet of airspace (60,000 feet to 325,000 feet) that holds great potential for providing enduring support directly to the Warfighter. This area is called high altitude. It's an area of operations spanning from just above the ceiling of most aircraft to just below near earth orbit. USASMDC/ARSTRAT is the Army's proponent for high altitude, and we've been actively seeking methods of exploiting this area of operation for almost a decade. Since the 2010 Winter edition of the Army Space Journal focuses on the space Warrior METL (Mission Essential Task List), I think it appropriate to include a discussion about our high altitude activities and how those activities add additional arrows in the space Warrior's quiver. This article provides the background and purpose behind our interest in near-earth activities. It also provides an update on the systems we're working on.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA559556
Entities
People
- Steven L. Messervy