A New Vision for

Operationally Responsive Space

and Force Projection

The views, opinions, and/or

findings contained in this article are
those of the author and should not
be interpreted as representing the
official policies, either expressed or
implied, of the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency or the
Department of Defense.

Livingston Holder
VP Space Systems

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FALCON Mission CONOPS Supports the Warfighter
GPS Satellite Command &
Guidance Control Satellite

In-flight Target
Small Launch Vehicle Update
Release Conditions:
Air Launch SLV ~ 350,000 ft
~ 23,000 fps

Hypersonic Cruise Vehicle

Release Conditions:
~ 100,000 ft
>10,000 fps
Submunitions
Dispense

Ground Harmless Penetrator

Launch Disposal Mach 4
SLV

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 FALCON Program
Common Aero Vehicle
and
Small Launch Vehicle

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The Andrews Airplane ORS Spiral Development Concept
Future Heavy
Lift Launch
Vehicle

Operationally
Responsive Spiral 2
Spacelift
Mass to 100 nmi circ due East

Gryphon

Spiral 1 S 100,000 lb
FALCON E
AC
th
wi
/LH
2
X 40,000 lb
LO
/LH 2
Gyrfalcon LOX
18,000 lb
LO X/RP
Peregrine
14,000 lb
1,400 lb
6,000 lb
GTOW
170K lb 500K lb 1.1M lb

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 Sample Airplane ORS CONOPS – Satellite Launch
PAV Stage 1 Stage 2 S/C Peregrine Air Vehicle
Expendable Stage 1
Expendable Stage 2
Payload (Satellite)

Separation
Stage 2 and CAM Payload in orbit
Restart 6 7

Circ burn Stage 2 Deorbit

Coast
SECO
5
Stage 2 burn
Stage 1 Disposal
Staging 4
Stage 1 burn
Jettison Fairing
PAV releases USA
3
PAV Ignition
2
PAV Flyback
Takeoff
1
CONUS

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Sample Airplane ORS CONOPS – CAV/ECAV Launch
PAV Stage 1 Stage 2 ECAV Peregrine Air Vehicle
Expendable Stage 1
Expendable Stage 2
Payload (CAV)

Reliant on Space
Communications and
Navigation Assets

CAV Entry

Separation Stage 2
5 CAV Entry
Boost Disposal
Separation
4 Ballistic
Separation Stage 1 ISR/BDA
3 Trajectory
Disposal
Ignition
2
Flyback Simple Forward
Basing
1 6
CONUS CONUS Target OCONUS Theater
CAV / ECAV Launches from CONUS Bases “In Theater” Operations from forward basing OCONUS

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 Global ECAV Delivery Performance

PAV Stage 1 Stage 2 ECAV

Global coverage achieved from two notional CONUS bases

- Maximum azimuth capability with dual bases.

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Inter-theater ECAV Delivery Performance
Aviano AB, Italy
(for reference only)

Airplane
Airplane ORS
ORS concepts
concepts maintain
maintain significant
significant inter-theater
inter-theater range
range
capability
capability in
in aa single-stage
single-stage configuration.
configuration.

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 Airplane ORS Operations Overview
Transportation Upper Stage Assembly / Storage

Integration
Main
Main
Operations
Operations
Base
Base(MOB)
(MOB)
Military or Civil
PAV Maintenance Operations Center Communications
USSTRATCOM

USA/Payload
transport Satellite
delivery
PAV/USA Integration
PAV self-ferry
Launch CAV/ECAV
Forward
Forward delivery
Operations
Operations
Base
Base(FOB)
(FOB)
Mission Control Center Theater
Theater
of operations
of operations

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 Notional Airplane ORS Basing / Logistics - Centralized Assembly
McChord AFB
PAV Self ferry to Operating Base
ƒ Western ECAV Operations
ƒ SSO Satellite Operations Satellite / Upper Stage Transport to Base
CAV Delivery to Integration Base
Central Operations Base
Forward Operating Base
Satellite Manufacturing Facility
ECAV Manufacturing Facility

Peregrine Main Operations Base (Central CONUS location)

• Depot level maintenance
• Training operations
• Upper Stage Assembly Integration
Langley AFB
• Alternate LEO Satellite Operations
• Alternate ECAV Eastern Ops

Vandenberg AFB Centralized Concept follows AWACS Model:

ƒ Alternate Western ECAV Operations
• Centralized Maintenance and Training
ƒ Western (SSO) Satellite Operations
• Dispersed Operations to Forward or
Contingency Operations Bases

Patrick AFB
• Easterly Satellite Operations
Elmendorf AFB
• ECAV Eastern Operations
ƒ Alternate ECAV Western Operations
ƒ Alternate SSO Satellite Operations
10

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 Airplane ORS System Best Addresses Operational Needs
• Integrate into existing civil / military basing and logistics
infrastructures
– Uses existing engines and subsystems
– Co-located with current strategic / tactical assets

• Operational Responsiveness
– Horizontal processing and integration reduces
infrastructure Minimal Infrastructure
– Eliminates need for vehicle transporter system, launch
pad; existing runways will suffice Responsive
– System can be operated and maintained out of
interior CONUS locations

• Launch Availability / All Azimuth Capability

– Avoids weather constraints
– Cruise to launch location for multiple direct launch /
rendezvous opportunities
– Multiple operations sites reduces launch base
vulnerability
– Supports a wider range of missions

• Minimum Risk Flight Test Program Global Coverage

– Can employ aircraft-type flight test program (gradual
increase in complexity prior to rocket-powered flight)
– Greatly reduces risk at IOC vs. vertical expendable
systems.

11

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