The Space Congress® Proceedings 1973 (10th) Technology Today and Tomorrow Apr 1st, 8:00 AM Space Test Program Neal T. Anderson Project Officer, HQ SAMSO/Spaee Test Program, Los Angeles, CA 90009 Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings Scholarly Commons Citation Anderson, Neal T., "Space Test Program" (1973). The Space Congress® Proceedings. 4. https://commons.erau.edu/space-congress-proceedings/proceedings-1973-10th/session-6/4 This Event is brought to you for free and open access by the Conferences at Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in The Space Congress® Proceedings by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SPACE TEST PROGRAM Neal T. Anderson, Capt, USAF Project Officer HQ SAMSO/Spaee Test Program Los Angeles, CA 90009 ABSTRACT The Department of Defense Space Test Program is a certain operational payloads. The only limitation unique organization dedicated to stimulating space- on this charter is that the payloads must not be related technology by providing launch and orbital authorized their own means of spaceflight. The support for research and development payloads. Program was never intended to be a launch agency This paper delineates program management techniques, for the large space programs. past accomplishments, and current activities. The benefit to the DOD is discussed. To achieve this objective a governing philosophy was established which required the Program to: INTRODUCTION • be comprehensive in scope In large measure the military power of the United • select and support the most States depends upon the possession of space systems beneficial payloads which are products of superior technology. To maintain a superior technological base and thereby • minimize individual mission fully exploit the potential of space, a broadly costs so as to maximize the based research, development, test, and evaluation number of missions function is required. • minimize the lead-time between As the military space program matured in the mid- payload identification and 1960s, high management levels in the Department of launch Defense recognized that the timely development of technology was being hindered by the lack of an on- The management procedures which evolved early in orbit research and test capability. Basic research the Program's history are in accordance with this of the space environment was being successfully philosophy. Higher management levels have main­ pursued by the Air Force's Office of Aerospace tained streamlined but effective control, while the Research (OAR). But the availability of space- Program Office is allowed to exercise decentralized flight support to developmental and pre-operational and efficient management techniques. The following payloads was largely non-existent. The stimulation sections of this paper will illustrate that the of all areas of technological development depended Program is achieving its objective by operating in upon an organized capability to select high quality the manner outlined above. payloads and insure prompt spa ceflight support. The embodiment of this capability had to be a low cost, rapidly responsive, flexible program. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT In May 1965, the Director of Defense Research and Space-related Research and Development activities, Engineering authorized the establishment of the while predominantly performed in the Air Force, are Space Experiments Support Program (SESP). Tri- widely distributed throughout the DOD. To stimu­ service in nature, the Air Force was designated the late this broad technological base, the opportunity executive agency. Within Air Force Systems Command to participate in the Space Test Program Is offered (AFSC), a Program Office was established at the to all DOD and government agencies. Under certain Space Systems Division (now the Space and Missile circumstances industry and foreign governments may Systems Organization), Los Angeles, California. also obtain the management and technical services Originally chartered to support Advanced Develop­ of the Program. ment (6.3) and Engineering Development (6.10 pay- loads, SESP's scope was increased in 1968 to in­ As stated in the Introduction, the Space Test clude the Basic Research (6.1) and Exploratory Program is a DOD program for which the Air Force Development (6.2) payloads previously supported by is the executive agency. To avoid any debilita­ OAR. In June 1971 the program was redesignated the ting effects of potential differences between the Space Test Program, participating organizations, representatives of all payload sponsoring agencies are involved in major The objective of the Space Test Program is the time­ program decisions. The Army, Navy, and Air Force ly spa ceflight of DOD research, development, and are, in essence, voting members at all meetings 6-1 which approve or prioritize payloads, allocate re­ prioritization Include: sources, or determine schedules. A joint Army, Navy and Air Force manual specifies Space Test • Urgency - immediate, near-term, Program management procedures. Final authority for or far-term usage payload and spaceflight plan approval rests in the Office of the Director of Defense Research and • Mission Orientation - operational, Engineering (ODDR&E). subsystem development, general research The most difficult task in the overall management of the program is the selection and priorit ization • Programmatic - essential, Important, of payloads. Absolutely crucial to effective ad­ secondary to sponsoring program's vancement of technology is the launch of high qual­ goals ity, directly beneficial payloads. The task is complicated by the fact that proposed payloads can This Master List is approved by ODDR&E prior to originate In any one of dozens of laboratories and transmittal to Hq SAMSO/DIE for detailing flight organizations. They can fall within any of four planning. categories ranging from basic research to engineer­ ing development. With 60-70 payloads in the program at any given time, the process of approving and prioritizing The payload submission and priorItization flow is payloads represents a major effort. It has been Illustrated in Figure 1* Each sponsoring agency efficiently and successfully conducted at the var­ (i.e., Army, Navy, Air Force, ARPA, NASA, etc.) is ious levels by assigning the task to knowledgeable responsible for insuring that the proposed payload individuals and small cooperative groups. Large actually requires spaceflight and that funding sup­ standing committees inundated with paperwork are port to build the payload is available. The spon­ not utilized. soring agency must then prioritize the payloads in accordance with its own Internal procedures and Upon receipt of the Master List of Accepted Pay- submit an Integrated list to Hq USAF, Deputy Chief loads, the Planning Function of the Space Test of Staff, Research and Development (DCS/R&D). Program prepares Spaceflight Plans delineating Within DCS/R&D, the Director of Space with the performance, schedules, and costs for a variety of assistance of the payload sponsors combines the missions. Once a Spaceflight Plan is approved, various lists to establish a Master List of Accept­ the detailed planning, procurement, and engineer­ ed Bayloads. Factors utilized in the overall ing activities which follow are solely the Office of the Director of Defense Research and Engineering_____ Proposed Master List of P Approved Master List, Proposed Flight Plans Approved Flight Plans Approved Master List Hq USAF/DCS R&D Proposed Director of Space Flight Plans Approved Flight Plans Payloads Laboratories Centers Organizations Figure 1 Payload Submission and Spaceflight Plan Approval Flow 6-2 responsibility of the Space Test Program Office. costs due to changes in payload requirements or Located at the Space and Missile Systems Organiza­ late delivery. The last feature assures that the tion (SAMSO) in Los Angeles, it is the overall DOD payload agencies adequately define their require­ management agency with complete authority to plan, ments. It also assures that they closely manage organize, and direct the progress of each launch. their activities. It does so by funding and procuring boosters, spacecraft, and payload integration. It also ob­ tains launch and orbital support as required. PAST ACCOMPLISHMENTS The Space Test Program is also the overall DOD On 29 June 1967, five months after contractual go- management agency for the assignment of payloads ahead, a Thor/Burner II lifted off from Vandenberg to secondary (excess) capability on launch vehicles AFS carrying an Army satellite and a Navy satellite. and spacecraft of other DOD programs. It is also Successful injection into a 2100 NM orbit by the the central agency for requesting secondary payload specially developed apogee insertion system marked space on NASA programs. In performing this func­ the completion of the first primary Space Test tion, the Program Office maintains current informa­ Program mission. Slightly over a month later, a tion on the secondary payload capabilities of all classified Air Force satellite was launched carry­ DOD and NASA programs. ing three additional payloads representing the first secondary Space Test Program mission. The Due to the large number and variety of the payloads Program 1 s complete launch history is presented in flown, the Program is not expected to manage pay- Table 1. load development. A vast increase in personnel, monetary resources, technical support, and manage­ In the late