Abstract

In 2006, the Office of Force Transformation, now organized under the Director of Defense Research & Engineering, began an initiative for the development of payload and bus technologies for Operationally Responsive Space (ORS). The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) was requested to manage the initiative with the objectives and attributes of 1) addressing ORS-unique capabilities, 2) directed at Combatant Commander (COCOM) operational concepts and needs, 3) with primary transition to Joint TACSAT experimentation or ORS payload acquisition, and 4) to expand the ORS industrial base. NRL developed and followed a fully Joint process for solicitation, Industry Day, selection, and execution of 20 projects from a field of 75 proposals. Each potential ORS payload technology was advanced in maturity, with several already transitioning to follow-on development programs or transitioning directly into flight projects. This initiative and similar efforts are critical to developing ORS and the use of military small satellites to their full potential. Recommendations for future processes and a way ahead are offered.

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Aug 12th, 6:00 PM

ORS Payload and Bus Technologies Initiative

In 2006, the Office of Force Transformation, now organized under the Director of Defense Research & Engineering, began an initiative for the development of payload and bus technologies for Operationally Responsive Space (ORS). The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) Naval Center for Space Technology (NCST) was requested to manage the initiative with the objectives and attributes of 1) addressing ORS-unique capabilities, 2) directed at Combatant Commander (COCOM) operational concepts and needs, 3) with primary transition to Joint TACSAT experimentation or ORS payload acquisition, and 4) to expand the ORS industrial base. NRL developed and followed a fully Joint process for solicitation, Industry Day, selection, and execution of 20 projects from a field of 75 proposals. Each potential ORS payload technology was advanced in maturity, with several already transitioning to follow-on development programs or transitioning directly into flight projects. This initiative and similar efforts are critical to developing ORS and the use of military small satellites to their full potential. Recommendations for future processes and a way ahead are offered.