Responsive Space Initiatives
SMDC/ARSTRAT is securing the space
high ground as the command leads
Army responsive space initiatives.
by Andy Roake
The Army is not the first service that comes to mind when discussing military space capabilities. But in fact, the Army is becoming more involved in developing and demonstrating space capabilities to meet current and emerging Army and warfighter needs.
The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command, headquartered at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala., is leading the way for the Army in responsive space.
The command established a Responsive Space Initiative task force to match up Army/warfighter needs with available technologies and demonstrations to provide combatant commands with rapid, cuttingedge solutions from space and high altitude that increase lethality, improve force protection, and enhance survivability, according to James Lee, chief of strategy, policy, and integration for SMDC/ARSTRAT.
He said the RSI task force is an effort to synchronize and integrate SMDC/ARSTRAT command activities to address emergent warfighter needs and incorporate “spin outs” from cutting-edge technologies into practical solutions that can be demonstrated in support of the current fight.
An example of the command’s responsive space effort is their development of a nanosatellite project, which is the Army’s first-ever foray into this area. The demonstration initiative is titled SMDC Orbital Nanosatellite Effect, or SMDC ONE. The objective of the project is to verify the functionality of several technologies and concepts of operations in orbital space that can provide an effect to satisfy a current commander’s operational need, said Lee.
“For this effort, we are dealing directly with the warfighter we are attempting to help,” Lee said. “Specifically, with this initiative, we’re working to demonstrate a beyond line-of-sight communications capability to a warfighting commander with a rapid, low-cost constellation of satellites.”
The command is coordinating with the Operationally Responsive Space Office, the Air Force Research Laboratory, academia and industry on the responsive satellite concept. SMDC/ARSTRAT is currently working with the director of the Operationally Responsive Space office to identify a launch vehicle and window for the effort.
“The concept is to demonstrate the ability to build a flight-ready, militarily useful nanosatellite capability in nine months, using off–the-shelf technology and existing payload designs to satisfy a warfighter need,” said Lee. He explained that the intent of the concept is not to replace current on-orbit capabilities, but to augment communications coverage for warfighters not serviced by other systems.
The project will consist of at least eight satellites on orbit, each weighing 3 to 5 kilograms with a lifespan of approximately one year. Lee described the satellites as being cube-shaped, approximately 10-by-10- -by-30 centimeters in size.
The command is leading the way for the Army and the ORS office in the nanosatellite area to not only to satisfy warfighter needs, but to also demonstrate that SMDC/ ARSTRAT is the “best athlete” in the nanosatellite area.
SMDC/ARSTRAT also wants to use this effort as an education opportunity to develop mind-on and hands-on experience for its own engineers, who will work closely with the contractor, Miltec Corp., in building the satellites.
SMDC/ARSTRAT plans to use the initiative to validate nanosatellite technologies and a concept of operations of using constellations of nanosatellites to achieve some level of persistence on a regional basis, hence demonstrating the military utility of nanosatellites.
“The next step, with this initiative and experience behind us, is to expand nanosat capabilities and effects,” likely by producing a “six-pack” configuration (two triple cubes), said Lee. “Additional mission areas, partners, warfighter requirements and needs have already been identified as a result of this first initiative.” Lee also stated that, “this is clearly an area we intend to exploit for rapid and inexpensive space effects.”
In addition to the SMDC ONE nanosat initiative, SMDC/ARSTRAT has also contracted with Quantum International and Intellitech Microsystems to evaluate the development of an imaging nanosat called Kestrel Eye. Originally a DARPA project, Kestrel Eye is designed to provide lowto- medium resolution imagery directly to the warfighter. According to John London, manager of the Kestrel Eye effort for the SMDC/ARSTRAT Technical Center, the affordability of satellites like Kestrel Eye and SMDC ONE would allow them to be deployed into orbit in large numbers, enabling the persistent presence many current space systems lack.
High altitude is another domain that the command is exploring for responsive use. High altitude is defined as 60,000 to 325,000 feet and SMDC/ARSTRAT is focused on the 60,000 to 100,000 feet area. This area provides the most favorable winds and is above most threat and weather effects.
SMDC/ARSTRAT has been actively involved in the high altitude mission area for several years and was designated the specified Army proponent for high altitude in September 2007. Over the years, the command has been involved in modeling and simulation, Army Training and Doctrine Command experimentation, prototype development, and as a member of the High Altitude Airship Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration (ACTD) team.
The command is focused on the total development of the high altitude mission area. The command’s technical center is pursuing the development and testing of prototypes of high altitude platforms and payloads; while the command’s Future warfare Center is pursuing identification and documentation of the needs and requirements of the warfighter in the high altitude area. Various studies indicate that the Warfighter needs a persistent capability that could be addressed through high altitude means.
SMDC/ARSTRAT, in coordination with the Army Training and Doctrine Command/ Army Capabilities Integration Center, is conducting an assessment to determine the Army’s way ahead in the high altitude mission area.
SMDC/ARSTRAT is currently involved in several high altitude platform initiatives. The command serves as deputy operational manager for the U.S. Special Operations Command-sponsored Global Observer Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) and also serves as the technical manager for the U.S. Central Command sponsored Zephyr JCTD, another fixed wing platform.
Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Brozek, Chief of the Experiments Division at the Army Space and Missile Defense Battlelab, said that the Global Observer JCTD is a fixed-wing, liquid hydrogen powered unmanned aerial system (UAS) that will demonstrate a long endurance capability of five days at a high altitude of approximately 65,000 feet. The UAS will enable persistent Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance- Targeting (ISR-T) and communications relay, point of network presence at extended ranges, which is a 2,500 nautical mile radius with three days on station. The Global Observer payload capacity is approximately 380 pounds.
Michael Lee, chief of the Force Enhancement Branch for the SMDC/ARSTRAT Technical Center, said that the Zephyr JCTD is a fixed-wing, heavier-than-air platform that provides an ultra-lightweight electrically powered aircraft designed to operate from 40,000 feet to 60,000 feet in altitude. It has a wingspan of 60 feet with a payload weight of five pounds, and can provide payload power of 100 watts during the day and 30 watts at night. The payload will be a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System relay with two unclassified channels and two classified channels. The aircraft uses a combination of solar array and rechargeable batteries, which will allow it to operate for durations of more than 15 days. It utilizes autonomous, real-time control, flying according to waypoint navigation with flight path updates. A flight was scheduled to occur in July 2008 at Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona with a goal of two-weeks of flight duration at altitudes of up to 60,000 feet. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defense conducted previous demonstrations of the Zepher platform at White Sands, N.M., in July 2007 with flights of 54 hours duration at 58,000 feet and 34 hours at 54,000 feet as part of a United Kingdom Ministry of Defence effort.
SMDC/ARSTRAT is also involved in the development of the Orion fixed-wing platform; the HiSentinel lighter-thanair platform; and the High Altitude Long Endurance Demonstrator (HALE-D) lighter- than-air platform. HALE-D is the successor of the Missile Defense Agency’s High Altitude Airship.
Michael Lee said that the Orion fixedwing platform is a heavier-than-air platform that will fly at approximately 65,000 feet altitude. It will be capable of carrying a payload weighing 400 pounds and will provide 4 kilowatts of power to the payload. Its duration will be greater than four days with autonomous flight controls. It will have a wing area of 600 square feet and a wing span of 132 feet. The gross take-off weight is 6,737 pounds. The airframe will be composed of an ultra-lightweight all composite material. Its power will be a hydrogen-based engine with the hydrogen fuel being stored in a tank 8 feet in diameter. Access panels will allow for payload and flight control equipment.
The purpose of the HiSentinel program is to demonstrate a powered stratospheric airship at high altitudes of more than 60,000 feet, according to Michael Lee. The HiSentinel program is a spiral development for a family of tactical launch, long-endurance autonomous, stratospheric airships. These low-cost systems will be capable of lifting small to medium payloads of between 20 and 200 pounds to high altitudes for duration of 30 days or greater. Low cost will provide a one time use platform with the payload recovered for the next flight. Designed for launch from remote tactical in-theater sites, these airships will not require large hangars or special facilities.
The first HiSentinel flight was conducted in November 2005 with a payload weight of 20 pounds and reached an altitude of 74,000 feet during a 3.5 hour flight with one hour of propulsion. The second HiSentinel flight was conducted on June 2008 with a payload weight of 50 pounds and payload power of 50 watts that reached an altitude of 66,000 feet for only a short flight due to a small leak in the hull. The next HiSentinel flight is scheduled in late 2009 with a payload weight of 100 pounds and payload power of 200 watts at an altitude of approximately 65,000 feet.
Michael Lee said that the HALE-D program will demonstrate a powered stratospheric airship at high altitudes of greater than 60,000 feet. The HALE-D program is a spiral development for large recoverable, long-endurance autonomous, stratospheric airships. After recovery, the airship can be re-launched for the next mission. These systems will be capable of lifting medium-tolarge payloads of 50 to 2,000 pounds to high altitudes for a duration of 30 days or greater. The first HALE-D flight is scheduled for next summer with a payload weight of 50 pounds and payload power of 500 watts at an altitude of approximately 60,000 feet.
According to Michael Lee, both the HiSentinel and HALE-D programs will demonstrate stratospheric airships that could benefit the warfighter by providing a rapid response deployable communication relay, netcentric communications and a persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability. A variety of communications and sensor payloads will be incorporated during the flight demonstrations to show military utility. ♦
Andy Roake is with SMDC/ARSTRAT public affairs.