Session
Technical Session I: Market Drivers
Abstract
Highly capable small satellites may play a significant role in the future of our national defense space architecture. Such capable small satellites are generically referred to as "LightSats." In this paper, we examine the logical motivation behind the utilization of LightSats to support military operations and national defense requirements. To complement LightSats, new cost-effective and responsive launch vehicles are also needed. We present an overview of the DARPA Advanced Space Technology Program (ASTP), which seeks to develop high-payoff advanced enabling technologies to enhance space system operational support to military forces and to assure availability of space assets in wartime. The program is comprehensively addressing all of the key segments of an assured access to space capability, including initiatives in launch vehicles, satellites and their subsystems, ground systems and novel operational concepts. The technologies developed under ASTP auspices will improve large defense satellites by decreasing the size and weight of their subsystems, and perhaps enhancing their capabilities and survivability. Additionally, these technological advances may make possible the advent of high capability LightSats. The work being done in DARPA for the defense community synergistically complements similar small satellite and launch vehicle efforts in the commercial and scientific communities. ASTP is helping to "prime the pump" of our nation's emerging commercial space industry, and the ramifications of this program may be far more widespread and diverse than the directly discernable impact on military space systems. For example, ASTP efforts to streamline manufacturing processes and thereby reduce the cost of inherently expensive space systems will be beneficial to the commercial and scientific space communities in addition to the defense establishment. In this regard, ASTP contributes to maintaining and invigorating our nations technical leadership in space. In addition to discussing the ASTP initiatives in some detail, we also present an overview of representative technologies and concepts for near-term (3-10 years) future LightSats which may offer significant military utility at cost-effective prices. In the Addendum to this paper, we also take a speculative look at potential areas of cross-fertilization between defense, commercial, and scientific LightSat developments for the far-term future (10-20 years).
The Role of Small Satellites in Our National Defense
Highly capable small satellites may play a significant role in the future of our national defense space architecture. Such capable small satellites are generically referred to as "LightSats." In this paper, we examine the logical motivation behind the utilization of LightSats to support military operations and national defense requirements. To complement LightSats, new cost-effective and responsive launch vehicles are also needed. We present an overview of the DARPA Advanced Space Technology Program (ASTP), which seeks to develop high-payoff advanced enabling technologies to enhance space system operational support to military forces and to assure availability of space assets in wartime. The program is comprehensively addressing all of the key segments of an assured access to space capability, including initiatives in launch vehicles, satellites and their subsystems, ground systems and novel operational concepts. The technologies developed under ASTP auspices will improve large defense satellites by decreasing the size and weight of their subsystems, and perhaps enhancing their capabilities and survivability. Additionally, these technological advances may make possible the advent of high capability LightSats. The work being done in DARPA for the defense community synergistically complements similar small satellite and launch vehicle efforts in the commercial and scientific communities. ASTP is helping to "prime the pump" of our nation's emerging commercial space industry, and the ramifications of this program may be far more widespread and diverse than the directly discernable impact on military space systems. For example, ASTP efforts to streamline manufacturing processes and thereby reduce the cost of inherently expensive space systems will be beneficial to the commercial and scientific space communities in addition to the defense establishment. In this regard, ASTP contributes to maintaining and invigorating our nations technical leadership in space. In addition to discussing the ASTP initiatives in some detail, we also present an overview of representative technologies and concepts for near-term (3-10 years) future LightSats which may offer significant military utility at cost-effective prices. In the Addendum to this paper, we also take a speculative look at potential areas of cross-fertilization between defense, commercial, and scientific LightSat developments for the far-term future (10-20 years).
