Moving from Limited, Large, High Cost Satellites to Numerous, Smaller, Low Cost Satellite Systems for the DoD is Seen as Key to the Use of Space.

DARPA Sees Clear Path to Faster Cheaper Space Technology

WASHINGTON - The commercial space industry can mass produce satellites that are small but quite sophisticated for the price. And launch vehicles are getting better and cheaper by the day. So it only makes sense for the U.S. military to ride that wave, said Steven Walker, the director of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.

From article, (Many of the technologies being developed for space warfare are classified. But DARPA has been vocal about the need to get the Pentagon to become less dependent on large, complex satellites in geostationary Earth orbit. Walker said it's time for DoD to shift future spending to constellations in low earth orbit made up of dozens or hundreds of small satellites.

Both DoD and the commercial sector have "very exquisite satellites," he said. They are high-performance systems but cost too much, and take too long to build and launch, Walker added. "We have been saying this for 10 years: We want to see a shift to LEO, get capabilities in larger constellations." The more satellites in the system, the harder it will be for the enemy to take it down, the thinking goes.

Larger constellations can be used for multiple missions, Walker said, and they could even "enable a battle management system for tactical war fighting on the ground," he said. "We've been talking about this for a while" but only recently have these ideas been taken more seriously.

The challenge from peer competitors is increasing but the technologies that could help cope with threats are advancing, he said. "We have pretty capable small satellites."C

The intent of the Blackjack program is to "demonstrate a distributed low earth orbit constellation that provides global persistent coverage with a total cost of ownership that is less than a single exquisite satellite."

Each satellite is envisioned to cost, including launch, less than $6 million.

Walker said the Air Force is enthusiastic about the project. The service has been criticized for not moving fast enough to modernize space systems. Walker said that, in fairness, large organizations like the U.S. military services excel at what they do and are "wedded to the way they've always done business." DARPA was created to be "disruptive of that mindset and a partner at the same time," he said. "We find that is much more effective.")

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