Colonel Neil McCaslandDirector, Space Vehicles

Air Force Research Laboratory

Colonel Neil McCaslandDirector, Space Vehicles

Air Force Research Laboratory

2

Space Technologiesfor Air Force Capabilities

6.1

6.3

6.2

6.1

6.3

6.2

Space ElectronicsVS-Heritage Electronics are Aboard

All DoD Operational Satellites

Radiation Belts

Ionosphere

Auroral Region

Radiation Belts

Ionosphere

Auroral Region

Radiation Belts

Ionosphere

Auroral Region

Radiation Belts

Ionosphere

Auroral Region

Space WeatherSpecifying, Forecasting &

Mitigating Space EnvironmentHazards to DoD Systems

Space CommunicationsBroadband Comm Supportfor High Data Rate Users

Space Power VS-Heritage Solar Cells

Aboard 95% of DoD Operational Satellites

Space StructuresVS Structures Technology

on EELV & Minotaur Launch Vehicles

3

Space WeatherImpacts to DoD Systems

Space Particle Hazards• Radiation degradation and

electronics upsets• Surface and internal charging /

discharging• Thin film and coating

degradation

Ionosphere/Neutral Hazards• Communication/Navigation

link degradation and outage• Surveillance clutter• Tracking & geolocation error• Satellite Drag

Direct Solar Hazards• Radio, optical and X-ray

interference• Solar energetic particle dose

degradation and detector clutter

• Radiation dose to humans at high altitudes

Radiation Belts

Solar Disturbances

Ionosphere

Aurora

4

Environment• DoD space systems operate in a harsh

radiation environment

• We develop cost-effective solutions to military-unique requirements

Space Electronics

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

Bill

ions

of D

olla

rs

Mid70's

Mid80's

Mid90's

End90's

Mid00's

Upgrade CostTotal RH market

0.35 µµµµm

0.25µµµµm

0.09 µµµµm

Infrastructure• Manufacturing cost grows exponentially

-- New fabs cost $3B+• Takes 30 yrs to amortize one dedicated

rad hard manufacturing plant

Dos

e R

ate

(Ups

et) [

rads

/s]

Total Dose [rads]

1013

1012

1011

1010

109

108

107

106

105

102 103 104 105 106 107

StrategicSpace Strategic

Missiles

Stra

tegi

cD

igita

l

SpacecraftProcessors

OtherMilitary

Space

Stra

tegi

cA

nalo

g

Avionics

100

"

EndoInterceptors

ExoInterceptors

CommercialSpace

GroundSystems

RadTolerant

RadHard

COTS/MOTS

AFR

L In

vest

men

ts

Dos

e R

ate

(Ups

et) [

rads

/s]

Total Dose [rads]

10131013

10121012

10111011

10101010

109109

108108

107107

106106

105105

102102 103103 104104 105105 106106 107107

StrategicSpace Strategic

Missiles

Stra

tegi

cD

igita

l

SpacecraftProcessors

OtherMilitary

Space

Stra

tegi

cA

nalo

g

Avionics

100100

"

EndoInterceptors

ExoInterceptors

CommercialSpace

GroundSystems

RadTolerant

RadHard

COTS/MOTS

AFR

L In

vest

men

ts

Commercial electronics won’t work!

Dedicated fabs not sustainable

5

Space Power

Boeing HS702 (17 kW)

Lockheed A2100AX (15 kW)

SS/Loral LS1300 (17 kW) Space Station (78 kW) (Multiple Launches)Power is a limiting factor

for nearly every space application

Current Power Ceiling~19 kW – Array Mass &

Volume Limitations

2040203020202010

100

1000

Comm

We are here

SBR

SBL

Space-Based Radar & Communications Drive Power Requirements

6

Space StructuresSystem Weight

Parasitic Mass/Payload Mass Fraction

Lightweight, High Packaging Efficiency Structures Critical to Communications and Remote Sensing!

Aperture SizeExample: Effect on SBR performance

2L∝ 3L∝

∝L1

∝L1

7

Space Communications

Milstar

Commercial

DSCS

Strategic EHF Comms

Wideband SHF Protected Comms

Wideband L, C, Ku, Ka-band Comms

AEHF

WGS

Commercial

• Mix of packet and circuit switched capacity

• Adaptive links for channel conditions – built-in protection

• High bandwidth trunks/circuits• Support for small user terminals• Integrated EHF, SHF, Ka band

services

Circa 2000 Circa 2005 Circa 2015• Circuit switched• Unconnected, separate services• Limited support for small terminals• Low protected capacity

• Internet-like transport with interconnectivity and cross-banding

• Support for small, mobile terminals• High protected capacity

WGS Commercial

AEHF

APSTSAT

8

• AFRL leads the way in space technology– New affordable means for reusable access– Smaller, cheaper, more capable payloads

• Partnership counts!– Collaboration with NASA is strong and growing

• Need attention to assure tomorrow's talent pool

Summary