smdc space initiatives - tennessee valley...

“Secure the High Ground”

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SMDC Space Initiatives

John London Space and Strategic Systems Directorate

Distribution Statement A: Approved for Public Release; Distribution Unlimited.


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AGENDA

Overview

SMDC-ONE

SNaP

Kestrel Eye

Launch

Summary


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Courier 1B Army Satellite – Launched 4 October 1960


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Miniature Electronics

Revolution

• Nano and Microsatellites can

provide critical data to previously

unreachable forces

• We’re conducting tech demos to

validate capabilities

• For less time and cost than

traditional satellite performance

analysis on the ground you can

obtain real on-orbit data

• Apply Unmanned Aerial Vehicle

paradigm to space: lower cost,

larger number, and ownership at

lower levels of Mission Command


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Satellite Orbit Types – Achieving

Persistence

LEO = Low Earth Orbit (160-2,000 km)

MEO= Medium Earth Orbit (2,000-35,786 km)

GEO = Geostationary Orbit (35,786 km)

HEO = Highly Elliptical Orbit


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Benefits of Smallsats in LEO

Low Cost • Per-Unit Cost Very Low

• Enables Affordable Satellite Constellations

• Minimal Personnel and Logistics Tail

• Frequent Technology Refresh

Survivability • Fly Above Threats and Crowded Airspace

• Constellations Degrade Gracefully

• Augmentation and Reconstitution are Rapid

• ASAT Engagement Cost Ratio in Our Favor

• Very Small Target

Responsiveness • Rapidly Designed and Built

• Rapid, Short-Notice Deployment

• Tasked from Theater

• Persistent and Globally Available

• Can Adapt to the Threat


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Orders of Magnitude Army satellites are at the very small end of the MilSat spectrum

TacSat-3 $88M

Multi-spectral

Imagery

455 kilograms

SNaP

$500K

Comm

Relay

5 kilograms

Kestrel Eye

$1.3M

Visible

Imagery

Block I

18 kilograms GPS 3 $250M

Position / Navigation

1,136 kilograms

SBIRS $1.5B

Missile Warning

4,545 kilograms

Army SMDC focus is on demonstrating the utility of nanosatellites

and microsatellites for the warfighter


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SMDC-Operational Nanosatellite Effect

(SMDC-ONE)


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Eight Satellites Delivered, 28 April 2009


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SMDC-ONE on Falcon 9 December 2010


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SMDC-ONE Ground Station

Low-cost, simple UHF Ground Station for SMDC-ONE nanosat


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SNaP – SMDC Nanosatellite Project

•5kg Mass Cube Satellite - $500K Each

•5 Times the Data Rate of SMDC-ONE

•3 Axis Stabilization and Propulsion

•Data Exfil / Over-The-Horizon Comms

•Launch August 2015


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Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC) Nanosatellite Program (SNaP)

Global Presence, Assured Access Comm for the Disadvantaged User FY12 – FY13

Approved by Congress as FY12 New Start On 25 April 2012

PARTICIPANTS

• COCOM Sponsor: USSOUTHCOM

•Oversight Executive: OSD

•Operational Manager: USSOUTHCOM

• Technical Manager: USASMDC/Army Strategic Command

• Transition Manager: PEO Missiles & Space

•Other Participants/Partners: USAFRICOM, Army ERDC, PEO IEW&S, PEO C3 – Tactical,

1st Space Brigade USASMDC


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Propulsion

Module

(Aerojet)

Magnetometer

(MAI)

GPS

Antenna

(Spectrum

Control)

Inertial

Sensor

Package

(Analog Devices)

Comm Element (SDR),

KI-55 & Processor

Module

(Pericle)

Deployable Solar

Panels

(Miltec/Pumpkin)

SNaP Design (Zenith)

Sun

Sensor

(SSBV)

Battery

Assembly

(Miltec/Yardney)


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ADACS

Components

(MAI)

UHF

Antenna

(Pop-Up)

(Haig-Farr)

ADACS

Electronics

(MAI)

Electronics

Assembly

(Flight Computer,

Telemetry and

Power)

(Miltec)

SNaP Design (Nadir)


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Kestrel Eye Block I Overview • Small (40 lbs) tactical imaging SC with 1.5 GSD from 450 km, 1.7 from 600 km

• Can be tasked by forward forces to take images of designated points

• Can take individual or strip images (5.8 km x 3.8 km frames)

• Returns imagery to user within seconds

• Can Roll ±30° (swath width ≈300 miles)

• Max roll rate ≈3°/sec in Roll, 1.2°/sec in Pitch

• A constellation (5 planes, 8 SC/plane) can provide high

persistence coverage of broad latitudinal swath

KE Block 1

Completed Integration


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Kestrel Eye Imaging Nanosatellite

1/3rd National System • High resolution • High competition for

access

384 Kestrel Eyes ($1.3M each) • 1.5 meter resolution • COCOM small unit direct control

1 commercial system • 0.4 meter resolution • Competition for access

The trade between large and small satellites is the trade between resolution and persistence. You need resolution for technical intel, but many COCOM requirements can be

satisfied with persistent, lower resolution systems

Visible area of Earth from low orbit is independent of satellite size or cost. Persistence requires numbers

What $500M will buy:


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Combatant Command planners assign Tasking

Priority to authorized units. Pri/Unit Codes

uploaded to satellites by Master Ground Station

Kestrel Eye Ops Concept

KE in orbit or launched on demand is apportioned to a

Combatant Command

Imagery or analyst description distributed from User Ground

Station to Tactical Unit via communications network

Multiple task requests adjudicated onboard satellite.

Images to requesting User Ground Station

3

2 1

4

in-th

eate

r netw

ork

.


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•45 kg Mass - $1.3M Each

•1.5m GSD Imagery

•Tasked from Theater

•Launch 2015

Kestrel Eye Block II

KE Block IIA KE Block IIM


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Joint Capability Technology Demonstration (JCTD)

Kestrel Eye

Global Presence, Assured Imaging for the Disadvantaged User FY 12 – FY 14

Approved by Congress as FY12 New Start

On 5 July 2012

Participants

• COCOM Sponsor: USPACOM

• Oversight Executive: OSD

• Operational Manager: USPACOM

• Technical Manager: USASMDC/ARSTRAT

• Transition Manager: PEO Missiles & Space

• Other participants / partners: USSOUTHCOM, SOCOM, AMRDEC, Army

Fires COE


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Op Demo Location

Bellows AFS

Brigade TOC

Encampment KE Full Image Frame


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GATR Antenna

• Inflatable

• 2.4 meter diameter

• S-Band feed

• Transports in two

cases

• Roller platform added

for LEO tracking

capability


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KE Block IIA

41 cm

47.5 cm

119 cm

82.5 cm

Propulsion Deck

Avionics Deck

Optical Deck

X Y

Z

Reference SC coordinate frame orientation. Origin is located at center of Propulsion Deck –Z face.

FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY

Antenna Deck

Deployable Cover


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KE Block IIM

Deployable

Aperture Door

Coarse Sun

Sensors (8)

Star Tracker

Body-mounted

Solar Arrays (4)

S-Band

Earth Coverage

Antennas (2)

Telescope

Aperture Torque

Rods (3)

10" f/10

Telescope

Reaction

Wheels (3)

Cold Gas

Propulsion

System

Magnetometer

LightBand

Separation

System


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Why A Dedicated Small Launcher? It’s All About the Constellation Architecture

• To achieve persistence from space for the

ground warfighter, nanosats need to be

deployed in low earth orbit in large numbers

• Riding as hitchhikers on large launch

vehicles will not put you in the right orbit on

the right schedule

• Targeted replacement of a nanosat within

the constellation needs a responsive

launcher that closely matches the satellite’s

price point

• Responsive, on-demand placement of

tactical satellites on orbit to meet COCOM

urgent needs also dictates a dedicated

launcher


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Lowering the Cost of Space Access Partial List of Attempts

(U.S Government-Funded Only – No Commercial or Foreign

Programs Included)

Space Shuttle

National AeroSpace Plane

Advanced Launch System

National Launch System

Spacelifter

Pegasus

Taurus

DC-X

EELV

Bantam

X-33

X-34

Minotaur

Space Launch Initiative

FALCON

RASCAL


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Launch Options

Cost

Pegasus

$40+M

325kg

Lift Capacity

Super

Strypi

$16+M

250kg

$1.5M

25kg

Falcon 1e

$11M

850kg

(not

currently

available)

Minotaur I

$45M

430kg

Falcon 9

$65M

9,000kg Minotaur IV

$65M

1500kg

Atlas V and

Delta IV

EELVs

$350+M

>8400kg

(To 750 km circular)

?

http://www.armybase.us/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Delta-IV-rocket-carrying-the-Air-Forces-latest-Wideband-Global-SATCOM-satellite.jpg


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Summary

•Army Responsive Space Initiatives are

Focused on Tactical Warfighter Needs

•Smallsat Capabilities Designed to be

Directly Employed by Small Unit Forces

•Constellations of Nanosats and Microsats

Can Provide Persistent, Affordable Space-

Based Capability

•Small Launch is a Key Enabler

Game changing capability, near term horizon

Expeditionary capabilities

for expeditionary force

needs. Reaching an

unprecedented low level of

Mission Command

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