A Taskable Space Vehicle: Realizing Cost Savings by Combining Orbital and Suborbital Flight
Abstract
The use of space gives the United States distinct advantages in any battlefield environment, but the high cost of space operations increasingly jeopardizes those advantages. Although the United States pioneered much of the current space technology, declining budgets for space research, development, and operations leave our legacy systems vulnerable to adversaries around the world. Other nations formerly incapable of space exploitation are quickly learning to counter US space technologies at surprisingly low costs. In order to reduce the expense of deploying and maintaining a robust space capability, the Department of Defense (DOD) must change the status quo in space operations or risk losing its dominance. The US Strategic Command, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and Air Force recognize the problem of sustaining the United States edge in space despite declining budgets. Tasked with bridging the gap between available resources and operational needs, the Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office envisions significant progress, but we should expand its vision. This article proposes a phased approach that will multiply the cost savings of the ORS program (hereafter referred to simply as ORS) and increase US space capabilities; this approach harnesses the potential of the orbital and suborbital flight of space planes and existing satellites for repeatedly maneuvering and performing multiple missions.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA562381
Entities
People
- Jonathan T. Black
- Thomas C. Co
Organizations
- Air University