Robust Affordable Flight Termination (RAFT) System

The current tone-based analog command destruct systems have been in use for decadesand provide very little protection against interference, jamming and receiver captureby undesired sources. Additionally, the current system is totally unsecured and limited inhandling modern missions where multiple vehicles are active simultaneously over an increasinglyexpanding air-space. A new system design is needed which provides the Range Safety Officerwith secure, positive control of multiple vehicles in an extending and overlappingrange environment. The proposed research approach will investigate existing anddeveloping technologies for replacing the communications channel between the RangeSafety Officer and the Vehicle with one or more alternatives. As a result of theproposed effort, RSS Corp. intends to propose a Flight Termination System designthat accomplishes the above objectives with minimal impact to operations which use thecurrent analog system.RSS Corp. anticipates that the resulting proposed design will eliminate the deficienciesof the current Flight Termination System, by providing the following improvements:Improve the use of radio frequency spectrum.Increase operational volume coverage.Allow control of multiple vehicles simultaneously.Increase security and resistance to interference.Allow ability to accept encryption and/or authentication.