Rapidly-Produced, Configurable Satellite Bus Platform for Tactically Responsive Space Missions

Honorable Frank Calvelli, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Space Acquisition & Integration, he wrote, “Today, our space systems are increasingly under threat. Strategic competitors want to deny our advantage in space during a potential conflict. Our current space architecture was designed when space was a benign environment. Previously, building large satellites with long development cycles, on cost-plus contracts made sense, but that time has passed. To meet the pacing threat, we are transforming from the few ‘big juicy targets’ of the past to a more proliferated and resilient architecture that can be counted on during times of crisis and conflict.” Secretary Calvelli derived a formula for going fast in space acquisition in order to counter the growing threat from near-peer adversaries:  Build smaller systems + 2) Use existing technology, designs to minimize non-recurring engineering + 3) Dive contract scope to 3 years or less from start to launch + 4) Use fixed price contracts = Mission Capabilities Faster to our Warfighters In order to achieve faster delivery of space capabilities, it is necessary to adopt the use of smaller satellites that can be manufactured rapidly and at scale. Large satellites take a significant amount of time to develop and test due to their complex and bulky structures, tanks, payloads, and components. Even with minimal non-recurring engineering or design changes, the process of creating large satellites can be time-consuming. Furthermore, building large satellites may not always be necessary as few missions actually require them. Disaggregating larger systems into smaller, more proliferated systems across all orbits can be a more efficient approach. By building smaller satellites with the right design approach, we can accelerate the speed with which new capabilities are delivered to orbit. Secretary Calvelli further stated in his memo that in order to address current and potential threats, it is imperative that the USSF take advantage of government research and development, internal research and development within industry, and commercial investments to create new technologies that can be integrated into USSF acquisition programs. One way to achieve this is to leverage existing commercial satellite bus production lines. Adopting this approach, along with shorter development timelines, enables the USSF to deploy and refresh new space systems at a faster pace than our adversaries.