SSC20-I-10 Army Decade in Space Matthew A. Anderson, Christopher M. Duron, Timothy A. Farmer (Radiance Technologies), Matthew A. Hitt, Melanie G. Klinner, Gerald E. Lanz (Intella, Inc), John R. London III, Mark E. Ray, Molly E. Riebling, Sierra L. Smith, Davis J. Weeks (Radiance Technologies), Ryan T. Wolff U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command ATTN: SMDC-SSSD (M. Anderson) P.O. Box 1500, Huntsville AL 35807-3801; 256-336-5015
[email protected] ABSTRACT In the twelve short years since the announcement of the SMDC-ONE satellite initiative by Lieutenant General Kevin Campbell, then Commanding General of U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), SMDC has put in place an active program of satellite technology development and a Low Earth Orbit Investment Strategy that holds great promise for providing low-cost, responsive data from space as the next major evolution in technology to enable Multi-Domain Operations for the Army of 2028 and beyond. The first fruits of that initiative were seen ten years ago with launch and successful mission of the first SMDC-ONE satellite. This small satellite strategy has gained traction with Army and DoD leadership who embrace the small satellite paradigm. This paper discusses Army progress and lessons learned in the past ten years of small satellite efforts, discusses relationships with other organizations and looks forward to potential capabilities enabled by technology advancements and innovative partnerships. INTRODUCTION established a major command, the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC), to serve as its “All military operations today are affected by space- proponent for space and national missile defense and based communications, imagery, positioning and overall integrator for theater missile defense.