Operationally Responsive Space: A New Paradigm or Another False Start?

The Department of Defenses Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) initiative is intended to develop capabilities to achieve two main goals: deliver space services directly to the joint warfighter and to reconstitute incapacitated satellites. ORS is currently enjoying significant attention among national security leaders in the Department of Defense (DOD) Congress and industry and is successfully fielding a series of tactical technology demonstration satellites and new responsive small launch systems. However these ideas are not new. Since the mid-1960s the United States has operated small spacelift systems able to launch satellites within a couple of weeks of reaching the launch site. In the mid-1990s the country demonstrated the significant capability of emergent small satellites technologies. The nation decided not to invest in a responsive satellite system at that time. Despite current attention ORS focus on direct support to tactical users is misapplied due to physical and fiscal limitations. Missions that are more appropriate include supporting joint force theater and operational commanders augmenting current on-orbit space systems and replacing damaged low Earth orbit national security spacecraft. However turning the responsive space concept into an operational reality will require a significant national investment. Commitment to an operational OSR may be particularly challenging in light of Air Force DOD and Congressional fiscal priorities.