Being Responsive to Space Needs: AFRL Advances ORS Capabilities through Two Collaborative Satellite Efforts

摘要

Under the auspices of the joint Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) program, two supporting aggressive research programs are being conducted by the US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). ORS is actively focused on timely satisfaction of the urgent needs of the joint force commanders for improving the responsiveness of space capabilities to meet national security requirements. ORS communication, navigation, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) satellites are being designed to rapidly meet near- term space needs of in-theater tactical forces by supporting contingency operations, such as increased communication bandwidth and ISR imagery over the theater for a limited period to support air, ground, and naval force missions. This article discusses two of these programs: the plug-and-play (PnP) satellite design for rapid construction through modular components, and the Training and Tactical ORS Operations (TATOO) Laboratory, which provides a computer-based simulation environment directed at improving warfighters' space capability responsiveness.