Barbara Sorensen (U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory), Robert R. Strunce, Jr. (Star Technologies Corporation)
Keywords: Sapce-based assets
Abstract:
Current space assets managed by traditional space system control resources provide communication, navigation, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities using satellites that are designed for long life and high reliability. The next generation Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) systems are aimed at providing operational space capabilities which will provide flexibility and responsiveness to the tactical battlefield commander. These capabilities do not exist today. The ORS communication, navigation, and ISR satellites are being designed to replace or supplement existing systems in order to enhance the current space force. These systems are expected to rapidly meet near term space needs of the tactical forces. The ORS concept includes new tactical satellites specifically designed to support contingency operations such as increased communication bandwidth and ISR imagery over the theater for a limited period to support air, ground, and naval force mission.
The Concept of Operations (CONOPS) that exists today specifies that in addition to operational control of the satellite, the tasking and scheduling of the ORS tactical satellite for mission data collection in support of the tactical warfighter will be accomplished within the Virtual Mission Operations Center (VMOC). This is very similar to what is currently being accomplished in a fixed Mission Operations Center on existing traditional ISR satellites. The VMOC is merely a distributed environment and the CONOPS remain virtually the same. As a result, there is a significant drawback to the current ORS CONOPS that does not account for the full potential of the ORS paradigm for supporting tactical forces.
Although the CONOPS approach may be appropriate for experimental Tactical Satellites (TacSat), it ignores the issues associated with the In-Theater Commanders need to own and operate his dedicated TacSat for most effective warfighting as well as the Warfighter specific CONOPS. What is needed to realize the full potential of the ORS approach to the support of in-theater tactical forces is the development of satellite tasking, interface, and data retrieval capabilities and mission operations approaches from a warfighter centered perspective, and the development of realistic training and simulation capabilities that will allow development, demonstration, and assessment of ORS tactical CONOPS.
A system for Training and Tactical ORS Operations (TATOO) is currently being developed. This system will support development and evaluation of ORS specific CONOPS approaches, and training and evaluation of those CONOPS implementations through dedicated training capabilities, facilities, and exercises. TATOO will support the operational side of ORS and will merge with the revolutionary ORS spacecraft development and deployment processes to make the ORS paradigm a reality. TATOOs primary objective is to support the In-Theater Commander and Warfighter by developing, training, and assessing ORS mission CONOPS for In-Theater tasking, scheduling, interface, and data retrieval for TacSats owned by In-Theater Commanders. TATOO provides a laboratory/classroom environment for the development, test and evaluation of ORS Tactical Mission CONOPS for In-Theater ORS operations. The TATOO laboratory will also be used to develop, evaluate, and document ORS Mission CONOPS for tactical ISR and other ORS missions. Within this framework, the laboratory/classroom can be used to develop the necessary training materials and procedures, as well as conduct training exercises that emphasize the training of In-Theater personal with regard to: Tactical Ground Station Mission Operations; Tactical Operations for Mission Tasking and Scheduling; Tactical Mission Data Retrieval; and, Support for Warfighter Operations.
Date of Conference: September 10-14, 2006
Track: Poster