Andrew Yee
July 31st 05, 04:29 AM
Public Affairs
Space Vehicles Directorate
Air Force Research Laboratory
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Contact: Michael P. Kleiman
Phone: 505-846-4704
June 24, 2005
VS Release No. 05-12
RoadRunner demonstrates revolutionary military space capability
Satellite's upcoming flight to include experiments designed to assist the
joint warfighter on the ground
In the near future, "responsive satellites" will provide U.S. and allied
ground forces with a revolutionary tool that delivers imagery or other
information on enemy operations directly to the joint forces commander.
However, the cutting-edge technologies required to provide this futuristic
capability have already been developed by military scientists and
engineers, and will soon be demonstrated by the Joint Warfighting Space
Demonstration-1/RoadRunner satellite.
The responsive space concept involves three key capabilities: responsive
satellites, responsive launch, and responsive operations. Currently, it
takes more than a decade to design, develop, and test a typical
surveillance satellite. It then requires about a year to prepare and
launch the spacecraft into orbit, and a few more months to checkout the
satellite before turning it over to a cadre of operators working from
control centers around the world. Most military satellites often perform
multiple functions and are designed to operate for about 10 years.
RoadRunner is pioneering the way to responsive space capabilities --
satellites that will be planned, assembled, and launched in well under a
month. "This will revolutionize the way space systems support our deployed
forces," said Dr. Bob Pugh, technical advisor, Joint Warfighting Space
Program Office. These single-purpose spacecraft will operate for a year or
more and will only cost about 10 percent of the price tag for today's
surveillance satellites. In many cases, they will be controlled by joint
forces in the field.
The RoadRunner spacecraft, also known as TACSAT 2, represents a
partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles
Directorate, the DoD Space Test Program (Space and Missile Systems Center
Detachment 12), the Naval Research Laboratory, the Army Space Program
Office, Air Force Space Command, the Space Warfare Center and NASA to take
the first steps in demonstrating the responsive space capability.
"We want to make space useful for everyone in the U.S. military. It is a
significant challenge, but we are working towards it one step at a time,"
said Neal Peck, RoadRunner program manager.
RoadRunner, developed at AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air
Force Base, N.M., and named after the New Mexico state bird, resulted from
a DoD initiative to improve the responsiveness of all facets of space
mission execution, and to provide space capabilities directly to the joint
warfighter in the field. "Similar to the speedy characteristic of its
namesake, this experimental satellite will have gone from concept to
launch ready within 18 months," said Peck. Following lift off, the
900-pound satellite will be placed into circular orbit approximately 217
miles above the earth. During its six to 12-month mission, several
critical experiments will be conducted.
The Target Indicator Experiment, provided by the Navy, will involve a
wideband sensor to collect radio, radar, and handheld communication
signals. In addition, the TIE will monitor the automated identification
signal now required on large ocean-going vessels. A 20-inch optical
telescope, built here at the Air Force Research Laboratory, will be
employed during the first orbit and throughout the mission to demonstrate
low-cost, high-quality photography for use by in-theater forces. Other
planned experiments include the integrated global positioning system
occultation receiver that will provide high-precision location information
for the spacecraft, recycled solar array panels that produce 500 watts of
power for the spacecraft, and autonomous operations that enable RoadRunner
to make many of its own decisions -- a very sophisticated auto pilot
system. "One challenge is to launch a space system with up-to-date
technology. If it takes 10 years to launch (a traditional spacecraft),
then the (satellite's) technology is obsolete. With RoadRunner, the
technology will be current," the program manager said. The Space Vehicles
Directorate team played a prominent role in developing and integrating
many of the experimental payloads comprising the satellite. "We want to
give government personnel handson experience with space systems. It is
more than just building a satellite, it is also operating one," Peck said.
In addition to teaming with other U.S. government agencies for
RoadRunner's production, AFRL has partnered with several contractors for
specific aspects of the spacecraft's design and development. MicroSat
Systems, Inc., constructed the satellite_ Broad Reach Engineering supplied
the command and data handling system, as well as the electrical power
management system and the flight software_ Space Exploration Technologies
Corp., constructed the Falcon 1 launch vehicle_ while Jackson and Tull
provided the project's integration and testing.
This ground-breaking, military responsive space concept demonstration
serves as the forerunner for rapid satellite production, launch, and
operation. "One day we will get to a point where a satellite launch is
just another sortie," Peck said. That day is fast approaching due to
RoadRunner's upcoming, remarkable voyage.
[NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at
http://www.vs.afrl.af.mil/News/Images/05-12a.jpg (310KB)
and
http://www.vs.afrl.af.mil/News/Images/05-12b.jpg (200KB)]
Space Vehicles Directorate
Air Force Research Laboratory
Kirtland AFB, New Mexico
Contact: Michael P. Kleiman
Phone: 505-846-4704
June 24, 2005
VS Release No. 05-12
RoadRunner demonstrates revolutionary military space capability
Satellite's upcoming flight to include experiments designed to assist the
joint warfighter on the ground
In the near future, "responsive satellites" will provide U.S. and allied
ground forces with a revolutionary tool that delivers imagery or other
information on enemy operations directly to the joint forces commander.
However, the cutting-edge technologies required to provide this futuristic
capability have already been developed by military scientists and
engineers, and will soon be demonstrated by the Joint Warfighting Space
Demonstration-1/RoadRunner satellite.
The responsive space concept involves three key capabilities: responsive
satellites, responsive launch, and responsive operations. Currently, it
takes more than a decade to design, develop, and test a typical
surveillance satellite. It then requires about a year to prepare and
launch the spacecraft into orbit, and a few more months to checkout the
satellite before turning it over to a cadre of operators working from
control centers around the world. Most military satellites often perform
multiple functions and are designed to operate for about 10 years.
RoadRunner is pioneering the way to responsive space capabilities --
satellites that will be planned, assembled, and launched in well under a
month. "This will revolutionize the way space systems support our deployed
forces," said Dr. Bob Pugh, technical advisor, Joint Warfighting Space
Program Office. These single-purpose spacecraft will operate for a year or
more and will only cost about 10 percent of the price tag for today's
surveillance satellites. In many cases, they will be controlled by joint
forces in the field.
The RoadRunner spacecraft, also known as TACSAT 2, represents a
partnership between the Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles
Directorate, the DoD Space Test Program (Space and Missile Systems Center
Detachment 12), the Naval Research Laboratory, the Army Space Program
Office, Air Force Space Command, the Space Warfare Center and NASA to take
the first steps in demonstrating the responsive space capability.
"We want to make space useful for everyone in the U.S. military. It is a
significant challenge, but we are working towards it one step at a time,"
said Neal Peck, RoadRunner program manager.
RoadRunner, developed at AFRL's Space Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air
Force Base, N.M., and named after the New Mexico state bird, resulted from
a DoD initiative to improve the responsiveness of all facets of space
mission execution, and to provide space capabilities directly to the joint
warfighter in the field. "Similar to the speedy characteristic of its
namesake, this experimental satellite will have gone from concept to
launch ready within 18 months," said Peck. Following lift off, the
900-pound satellite will be placed into circular orbit approximately 217
miles above the earth. During its six to 12-month mission, several
critical experiments will be conducted.
The Target Indicator Experiment, provided by the Navy, will involve a
wideband sensor to collect radio, radar, and handheld communication
signals. In addition, the TIE will monitor the automated identification
signal now required on large ocean-going vessels. A 20-inch optical
telescope, built here at the Air Force Research Laboratory, will be
employed during the first orbit and throughout the mission to demonstrate
low-cost, high-quality photography for use by in-theater forces. Other
planned experiments include the integrated global positioning system
occultation receiver that will provide high-precision location information
for the spacecraft, recycled solar array panels that produce 500 watts of
power for the spacecraft, and autonomous operations that enable RoadRunner
to make many of its own decisions -- a very sophisticated auto pilot
system. "One challenge is to launch a space system with up-to-date
technology. If it takes 10 years to launch (a traditional spacecraft),
then the (satellite's) technology is obsolete. With RoadRunner, the
technology will be current," the program manager said. The Space Vehicles
Directorate team played a prominent role in developing and integrating
many of the experimental payloads comprising the satellite. "We want to
give government personnel handson experience with space systems. It is
more than just building a satellite, it is also operating one," Peck said.
In addition to teaming with other U.S. government agencies for
RoadRunner's production, AFRL has partnered with several contractors for
specific aspects of the spacecraft's design and development. MicroSat
Systems, Inc., constructed the satellite_ Broad Reach Engineering supplied
the command and data handling system, as well as the electrical power
management system and the flight software_ Space Exploration Technologies
Corp., constructed the Falcon 1 launch vehicle_ while Jackson and Tull
provided the project's integration and testing.
This ground-breaking, military responsive space concept demonstration
serves as the forerunner for rapid satellite production, launch, and
operation. "One day we will get to a point where a satellite launch is
just another sortie," Peck said. That day is fast approaching due to
RoadRunner's upcoming, remarkable voyage.
[NOTE: Images supporting this release are available at
http://www.vs.afrl.af.mil/News/Images/05-12a.jpg (310KB)
and
http://www.vs.afrl.af.mil/News/Images/05-12b.jpg (200KB)]