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The NE0 of the Future 

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What are the Technological Capabilities for Satellite 

Reconnaissance in the Future? 

We are on the brink of a totally new era in . apace

Yesterday's concepts and today's systems are limited and

sized to the capabilities of conventional launchers

Tomorrow's Space Shuttle could open up possibilities of

the scope experienced in the initial days of the NRP

The Space Shuttle will offer the potential and opportunity

to develop and operate revolutionary concepts in spacebased reconnaissance systems such as

Erection of large structures in near earth orbit (these

could then be economically placed in synchronous orbit

by low-thrust engines to provide continuous coverage)

System reusability (the possibility of recovering and

refurbishing satellites for reuse could achieve significant savings, both from the standpoint of reducing the

numbers of satellites procured, and elimination of

redundancy now incorporated to assure long orbital

lifetimes)

Store-on-orbit (the Shuttle could place•spares for high

value spacecraft on orbit to protect against gaps in

coverage caused by untimely failure to hostile action;

some cost savings could be achieved by using the storeon-orbit concept to regularize launches scheduled to

coincide with procurement schedules)

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Why Must Advanced Technology be Pushed? 

The collection environment is constantly changing. The

Soviets, a principal target of satellite activity, are

constantly upgrading their efforts to counter satellite

collection by

It will be difficult under SALT II to verify compliance

with accords

- Sensitive data collected by COMINT, TELIN

satellites will become even more important

- More sophisticated methods of collection will be

required as our adversaries improve their deception

techniques

Recently demonstrated potential for reconnaissance satellites to support a broad spectrum of requirements (from

national to tactical) opens avenues heretofore uncharted.

Systems could become the eyes and ears of the field commander

in the future

How Should the NRO of the Future be Managed? 

An organization with an unambiguous mission--the development

and operation of all US reconnaissance satellites

An organization divorced from the requirements process. In

essence, a technical organization dedicated to and capable

of building highly sophisticated space systems

Manned by the most competent technical people available,

with direct access to leading technical contractors

Centralized management to insure that the unique technology

pursued is applied to the entire spectrum of intelligence

collection disciplines

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Placed within an organizational structure which affords

ready access to existing resources, such as found within

the normal DOD/AP procurement/operations structure

Recognized resource management flexibility to allow the

application of funds to the most promising concepts in a

timely manner

Unlike normal DOD systems, such as the development of

aircraft weapon systems like the B-1, P-15, etc, the space

reconnaissance effort is very unique in many ways

Space reconnaissance systems are right at the leading

edge of technology

- Individual systems are modified during the production

process in response to changing, dynamic requirements

and adversary countermoves

On a one-for-one basis space systems are very expensive

and once launched must work. While the Space Shuttle

will afford opportunities for retrieval and on-orbit

repair of low orbit systems, synchronous high altitude

systems will for the foreseeable future have to maintain

the high level of reliability demonstrated by systems

today. There is no long screwdriver into deep space

Contractors are "incentivized" to build systems that

work; contractor innovation is permitted so long as

products fill requirements

Contractors participate heavily in the life cycle

responsibility for systems. They develop, produce and

operate the satellites they build

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