1.   Northrop-Grumman’s work for SBIRS-High criticized
2.  Problems with Boeing’s satellites may cost the company $1 billion worth of claims
3.  DARPA’s investigating a low-cost launch alternative
4.  A near-space surveillance platform is being considered
5.  China launches first solid-fuel rocket
6.  China to invest in EU Galileo program
7.  Advanced satellite technologies lose funding in congressional appropriations conference
8.  SBR and FIA may be combined
9.  Rumsfeld agrees to 2012 launch date for GPS III
10. STRATCOM head warns of the need to protect satellites in-orbit

1.  Northrop-Grumman’s work for SBIRS-High criticized

Northrop-Grumman was pilloried by the commander of Space and Missile Command, Los Angeles , as being a large contributor to the Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS)-High’s developmental delay.  Lt. Gen. Brian Arnold wrote a letter to the company complaining about “weak management oversight, inadequately designed test facilities and poor manufacturing discipline.”  He pointedly noted, “To be clear and concise, I am very concerned about your corporate commitment.” Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor, while Northrop-Grumman is charged with developing the infrared sensors that are to give SBIRS-High an early warning capability to detect ballistic missile launches.  The infrared sensors were meeting all specifications back in January but by the time Arnold wrote the letter – Aug. 19 – the program was “now struggling to produce a marginally acceptable payload.”  Northrop-Grumman immediately responded with a change in personnel.  It cannot suffer a penalty, since it is the subcontractor, but Arnold warned, “I want to assure you that I will consider your efforts as a major subcontractor when I evaluate past performance for future source selections to which you are party, either as a prime or sub.”  Lockheed Martin may lose some of the $206 million available for performance bonuses.
(Bloomberg.com, Sept. 15, 2003 )

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2.  Problems with Boeing’s satellites may cost the company $1 billion worth of claims

The Wall Street Journal reports ( Sept. 15, 2003 ) that Boeing may be slapped with insurers’ liability claims worth over $1 billion.  This has been prompted by continued problems with Boeing’s satellites.  In this particular case, deficient solar panels may cause the six Boeing satellites in orbit to have greatly shortened lifespans.  Industry insurers believe that unless a compromise is made by the end of the year, a lawsuit will be started.  A possible cause of Boeing’s 702 model’s chronic problems with its solar panels is the company’s decision not to test new technology before putting it on the satellites.  This was compiled by the follow-up decision not to alter launch schedules by testing the satellites’ performance once they were in space.  Boeing has been criticized in the past for quality control problems of its satellites: its vehicles are said to have two to three times the failure rate in-orbit as do other satellites.

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3.  DARPA’s investigating a low-cost launch alternative

The Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is attempting to create a low-cost space launch technology.  Through the Responsive Access Small Cargo Affordable Launch (RASCAL) program, DARA hopes to use a propulsion concept known as mass injection precompressor cooling (MIPCC), as well as advances in rocket motors and lightweight tank materials, to make a relatively quick and financially viable launch system.  The RASCAL would have two parts:  an MIPCC-powered vehicle (MPV), which would be reusable, and a two-stage expandable rocket vehicle (ERV) that would be exoatmospheric. Eventually, DARPA hopes that the RASCAL project will be able to put a 110-pound payload into a 675 nautical mile sun-synchronous orbit at a recurring launch cost of about $750,000.  If the RASCAL were to be used as a weapons platform, it may be able to deliver a 2,000 pound payload to an orbit of 2,500 nautical miles.  The Air Force is considering possibly using elements of the RASCAL for its Common Aero Vehicle program.  Currently, the RASCAL’s hardware elements are being tested, with a test launch vehicle on schedule to be built in about a year.  The MPV is planned to be 89 feet long, have a wingspan of 81 feet, and have an internal payload bay (which will contain the ERV) with a length of roughly 42 feet.  RASCAL would have a take-off weight of 80,000 pounds and carry a 16,000 pound payload.  The ERV would be deployed by the MPV when the latter reached an altitude of about 200,000 feet.   
(Aviation Week & Space Technology, Sept. 22, 2003 )

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4.  A near-space surveillance platform is being considered

The United States Air Force is researching a Near-Space Maneuvering Vehicle (NSMV) that could be used as a surveillance and communications-relay platform.  This air vehicle would float in near-space (100,000 to 200,000 feet altitude), out of range of missiles, aircraft, and bad weather, yet below near-earth orbit satellites.  The NSMV is envisioned as being used in conjunction with existing platforms like Northrop-Grumman’s Global Hawk high-altitude (40,000 feet) unmanned aerial vehicle in order to support tactical engagements. Concept validation of the NSMV is expected to start next month during the two-part flight of JP Aerospace’s v-shaped prototype aerial vehicle (the Ascender).  Once successful flight exercises have been held by a 93-foot Ascender model, JP Aerospace and the US Air Force Space Battlelab will send a 175-foot variant to 100,000 feet altitude to hover for a bit and then return to base.  By the middle of next year, the developers hope to put a 100 pound payload on the Ascender, send it to 100,000 to 120,000 feet altitude, have it fly for 370 kilometers and for five days, and then return it to base.  Program officials claim that the 175-foot variant could, at 120,000 feet altitude, use a regular communication suite and electro-optic sensor to monitor an ellipse of ground 400 nautical miles wide.  The 175-foot variant is thought to cost around $500,000 per air vehicle.  Still to be determined is how the system can handle ultraviolet light in near-space and whether it can survive being buffeted around jet streams (which reside at about 30,000 to 45,000 feet altitude).
(Jane’s Defence Weekly, Sept. 17, 2003 )

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5.  China launches first solid-fuel rocket

China ’s first four-stage, solid fuel rocket underwent a successful launch on Sept. 16, reports the official Xinhua news agency.  The Pioneer I rocket can orbit a payload of up to 100 kilograms and is said to be for placing satellites in orbit for short-term usage, since it only needs 12 hours to prepare for launch (versus three months for the liquid-fueled version).  It also can be launched from a mobile launch pad.
(Agence France-Presse, Sept. 24, 2003 )

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6.  China to invest in EU Galileo program

The Financial Times reports ( Sept. 18, 2003 ) that China is expected to invest in Galileo, the European Union’s answer to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS).  The United States insists that Galileo is unnecessary and duplicative, and would most likely regard participation by China with alarm.  The overall Galileo project is projected to cost 3.5 billion euros, with 230 million euros now expected from China .  The EU transport minister, Loyola de Palacio, commented, " China will help Galileo to become the major world infrastructure for the growing market for location services."  China ’s cooperation with Galileo will give its burgeoning space program a boost by improving its communications and satellite systems.  China has expressed specific interest in Galileo’s Public Regulated Service, which would be used by security services and is presently scheduled to be operational by 2008. 

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7.  Advanced satellite technologies lose funding in congressional appropriations conference

House and Senate conference appropriators reached an agreement last week on the FY 2004 defense bill.  The Space-Based Radar (SBR) will receive $174 million, instead of the $274.1 million the Pentagon had requested.  Both the House and Senate had cut funding from this program in their individual deliberations.  Also losing money in the appropriations process is the Advanced Wideband Satellite (AWS).  Instead of the $439 million that was requested for the program, the conference appropriators have given it $339 million.  Again, both sides of Congress had cut funding for this program in earlier considerations of the bill, citing worries about an overly-ambitious development schedule.  Pentagon officials have warned that cuts in the SBR’s requested funding would result in months of delays for the program and severely hamper their ability to hold concept definition activities and technology demonstrations.
(Defense Daily, Sept. 23, 2003 , and Sept. 17, 2003 )

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8.  SBR and FIA may be combined

The Space-Based Radar (SBR) program being developed to track terrestrial objects may be combined with the program which is to provide intelligence sources with imagery, the Future Imagery Architecture (FIA) program.  SBR was to see its first launch in 2010 but, after some examination by the Air Force, will more likely hold it in 2012.  FIA, $4 billion over budget and running behind schedule, is scheduled to have its first launch in 2008.  While combining the two programs may cut some costs, there is some concern about requirements-creep.  To combat this, the director of requirements for the Air Force’s Space Command must okay all space systems’ requirements.  All SBR requirements must then be approved by a group headed by Air Force Undersecretary Peter Teets.
(Space News, Sept. 15, 2003 )

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9.  Rumsfeld agrees to 2012 launch date for GPS III

Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has acquiesced to Air Force officials and finally agreed to a FY 2012 launch of the next generation of satellites for the Global Positioning System.  Rumsfeld had been pushing for an FY 2010 launch of GPS III satellites, something that program officials warned could not be accomplished.  The Pentagon has planned to spend $3 billion through FY 2009 on the program.  Soon, Air Force Undersecretary Peter Teets is expected to sign off on an acquisition memo that would launch the concept definition and requirements definition phase, to be closely followed by a request for proposals.  The first phase is expected to yield contracts worth $27 million.  At present two contractors – Boeing and a Lockheed Martin-Spectrum Astro team – have been waiting for a decision without receiving any compensation since December 2002.
(Defense Daily, Sept. 18, 2003 )

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10.  STRATCOM head warns of the need to protect satellites in-orbit

Strategic Command head Adm. James Ellis warns that that United States needs to step up its protection of satellites, both military and civilian, in order to ensure the sanctity of its war-fighting abilities.  Besides hardening satellites and increasing their resistance to jamming, Ellis recommends that the ground systems which process information from these satellites be protected as well.  He points out that “I guarantee you that our adversaries understand where the source of our technical prowess is, and the supporting elements that are necessary for us to succeed.”  One sticking point may be hardening commercial satellites, which were responsible for 80 percent of the bandwidth used by American troops in Iraq this past spring.  U.S. military officials and commercial operators both feel the other should bear the brunt of the hardening costs.
(Space News, Sept. 15, 2003 )

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