Over the past few months DoD and NASA have drafted a plan for investments in technologies that will enable responsive, reusable and affordable access to space. As the draft of the government plan is nearing completion, we wish to invite you to a briefing of it and solicit your comments. A one day briefing for industry (BFI) is planned on June 12, 2002 at 1200 Wilson Boulevard, Rosslyn, VA 22209. The meeting registration will begin at 8:00 AM. Due to the location attendance will be restricted to U.S. citizens.
Attachments include a map of Rosslyn and Listing of Accommodations. Please RSVP to Ms. Karen Coleman, ZAI, using the attached registration form, fax number (703) 243-3508, no later than June 7.
Dr. Ronald Sega, Director Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E) will open the briefing with an overview of the National Aerospace Initiative at 9:00AM. This will be followed by an introduction to the Access to Space S&T plan and detailed presentations of the S&T plan for each of the five subsystem areas by the subsystem team leads. A question and answer period will follow completion of the briefings.
The National Aerospace Initiative (NAI) is a time-phased, goal focused Science and Technology (S&T) plan that supports Secretary RumsfeldÕs operational transformation goals for the U.S. military warfighter.
Plans have been drafted for each of three elements of NAI (airbreathing hypersonics, access to space and space technology) following a stepping stone approach to development that revolutionizes military capabilities for rapid global reach, responsive space access and space control. The Access to Space (ATS) part of NAI emphasizes a rocket based two-stage to orbit (TSTO) approach in the near and mid terms to enable militarily responsive, low-cost, reusable launch vehicle systems circa 2015.
The draft government ATS S&T plan has been cooperatively developed by ODDR&E, the Air Force and NASA using the Technology Development Approach (TDA). This Approach is based upon the establishment of system and subsystem Goals, Objectives, Technical Challenge, and Approaches (GOTChA) for planning and execution of S&T development. Reusable space launch system attributes (capabilities) were identified based on user requirements for future missions. Airframes, Propulsion, Flight Subsystems, Operations, and Payloads (SMV, MIS, CAV) have been identified as the key subsystem areas for which the goals, objectives, and technical challenges are defined in terms of quantifiable engineering parameters that are both significant and measurable at the subsystem level, and culminate to the desired system attributes.
Technology development projects (commensurate with approaches) have been defined and prioritized based upon their significance in meeting component and subsystem level goals and overall system capabilities. Ground and flight demonstrations are planned as necessary to reduce technology risk for transition.
Annotated copies of the ATS plan briefings will be provided on CD-ROM to all BFI attendees. Additionally, a questionnaire will be distributed at the BFI asking for your comments and suggestions on specific aspects of the plans. We request written responses not to exceed five pages.
Approximately two weeks following the BFI, you will be offered the opportunity to present your comments on the plans and suggestions for additions / modifications to the plans. At that time you may also present your own perspective on system and subsystem approaches to attaining the goals and subsystem component technologies that you may have an interest in pursuing. We will have a sign up sheet for this activity at the meeting.
Please note that this ATS BFI is not a commitment on the part of government to solicit or award contracts.
