Start Date
26-4-1989 2:00 PM
Description
This paper describes potentially attractive uses of smaller satellites for complementing current Air Force space systems. By mission area, the applications of smaller satellites as enhancements to current systems are shown for three operational scenarios: (1) to provide dedicated support to tactical war-fighting users, (2) to provide a quick-response surge to augment current systems in a crisis, and (3) in the case of the failure or loss of a satellite, to provide responsive back-up systems for use until new primary systems can be deployed. Preliminary results show that in every space mission area, smaller satellites can potentially provide a useful enhancement to the current systems. The enhancements in most cases are improvements in coverage, capacity, and data timelines which are required from time to time by certain user segments. Enhancements in some cases simultaneously improve the robustness and resiliency of the space mission area. The smaller satellites probably cannot realistically replace current systems, which have evolved to their current configuration through years of optimization of cost, mission capability, and survivability. The results show that using current technolgy and design practices, the 500-1000 pound weight class of satellite is what is being referred to as smaller, but useful.
Paper Session II-A - Potential Use of Smaller Satellites for Military Space Operations
This paper describes potentially attractive uses of smaller satellites for complementing current Air Force space systems. By mission area, the applications of smaller satellites as enhancements to current systems are shown for three operational scenarios: (1) to provide dedicated support to tactical war-fighting users, (2) to provide a quick-response surge to augment current systems in a crisis, and (3) in the case of the failure or loss of a satellite, to provide responsive back-up systems for use until new primary systems can be deployed. Preliminary results show that in every space mission area, smaller satellites can potentially provide a useful enhancement to the current systems. The enhancements in most cases are improvements in coverage, capacity, and data timelines which are required from time to time by certain user segments. Enhancements in some cases simultaneously improve the robustness and resiliency of the space mission area. The smaller satellites probably cannot realistically replace current systems, which have evolved to their current configuration through years of optimization of cost, mission capability, and survivability. The results show that using current technolgy and design practices, the 500-1000 pound weight class of satellite is what is being referred to as smaller, but useful.
Comments
Space and Operational Commander
Session Chairman: Dominick Martinelli, Space Division Chief of Staff, Los Angeles, CA
Session Organizer: Gary Spinak, 6555th Aerospace Test Group, Patrick Air Force Base, FL