Operationally responsive spacelift: supporting a seven-day launch schedule
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Authors
Hearne, Erin T.
Subjects
Operationally Responsive Space
Advisors
Racoosin, Charles M.
Date of Issue
2013-06
Date
Jun-13
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
In 2001, the Air Force issued AFSPC 001-01, Mission Need Statement for Operationally Responsive Spacelift, identifying the need for a responsive launch system ready to launch and reach orbit within hours of call-up to deploy space assets in support of military operations. Current range operations include months and often years of pre-launch planning and infrastructure development in order to meet launch vehicle, customer, and safety constraints. This thesis studies the Air Forces limited ability to support small satellite launches into sun-synchronous low earth orbit in response to a Tier-2 ORS request, focusing on launching from a single range with two different small payload launch vehicles and investigates the potential for making spacelift more responsive. This investigation determined that the Air Force is not currently capable of launching either vehicle type within a seven day schedule due to a variety of doctrinal, procedural, and resource challenges and restrictions. This thesis presents several suggested changes and risk mitigation options for overcoming these shortfalls in equipment, personnel, and paperwork to increase the responsiveness of spacelift in support of the Air Force and DoD launch objectives.
Type
Thesis
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Space Systems Academic Group
Organization
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NPS Report Number
Sponsors
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Citation
Distribution Statement
Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.