Reply With Quote"Warfighters"
Nothing on you my man, I just can't stand the term. I just know some middle aged overweight salesman coined it.
On-Demand Satellite Imagery Envisioned for Frontline Warfighters
March 12, 2012
DARPA seeks expertise from mobile phone, medical pneumatics, industrial machinery, optics and automobile racing communities to build inexpensive, “disposable” satellites for timely overhead imagery
Today, the lowest echelon members of the U.S. military deployed in remote overseas locations are unable to obtain on-demand satellite imagery in a timely and persistent manner for pre-mission planning.
This is due to lack of satellite overflight opportunities, inability to receive direct satellite downlinks at the tactical level and information flow restrictions.
DARPA’s SeeMe program (Space Enabled Effects for Military Engagements) aims to give mobile individual US warfighters access to on-demand, space-based tactical information in remote and beyond- line-of-sight conditions.
If successful, SeeMe will provide small squads and individual teams the ability to receive timely imagery of their specific overseas location directly from a small satellite with the press of a button — something that’s currently not possible from military or commercial satellites.
“We envision a constellation of small satellites, at a fraction of the cost of airborne systems, that would allow deployed warfighters overseas to hit ‘see me’ on existing handheld devices and in less than 90 minutes receive a satellite image of their precise location to aid in mission planning,” said Dave Barnhart, DARPA program manager. “To create inexpensive, easily manufacturable small satellites costing $500K apiece will require leveraging existing non-traditional aerospace off-the-shelf technologies for rapid manufacturing, such as the mobile phone industry’s original design manufacturers, as well as developing advanced technologies for optics, power, propulsion and communications to keep size and weight down.”
DARPA hosts a Proposers’ Day on Mar. 27. The following technology areas and non-traditional space communities are sought for the SeeMe program:
- Rapid, low-cost manufacturing technologies (mobile phone industry original design manufacturers)
- Propulsion technology (automobile racing industry nitrous oxide high-pressure cold gas technology)
- Solid state components (industrial machinery electronics components)
- Valve technology (medical pneumatic valve industry)
- Advanced optics (developers of non-traditional RF membranes and visual apertures)
The SeeMe constellation may consist of some two-dozen satellites, each lasting 60-90 days in a very low-earth orbit before de-orbiting and completely burning up, leaving no space debris and causing no re-entry hazard.
The program may leverage DARPA’s Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) program, which is developing an aircraft-based satellite launch platform for payloads on the order of 100 lbs. ALASA seeks to provide low-cost, rapid launch of small satellites into any required orbit, a capability not possible today from fixed ground launch sites.
“SeeMe is a logical adjunct to UAV technology, which will continue to provide local or regional very high-resolution coverage, but which can’t cover extended areas without frequent refueling,” Barnhart said. “With a SeeMe constellation, we hope to directly support warfighters in multiple deployed overseas locations simultaneously with no logistics or maintenance costs beyond the warfighters’ handhelds.”
Interested proposers may view the Proposers’ Day special notice here.
http://www.darpa.mil/NewsEvents/Rele...012/03/12.aspx
"Warfighters"
Nothing on you my man, I just can't stand the term. I just know some middle aged overweight salesman coined it.
isn't this just FCS repackaged?
No worries, sir.Originally Posted by Laworkerbee
"Warfighters"
Nothing on you my man, I just can't stand the term. I just know some middle aged overweight salesman coined it.
I just strikes me the DOD has buzzwords like private sector industries
I don't think FCS had a component for small, inexpensive, short-lived imagery satellites for smaller units.
This kinda reminds me of fictional satellites that were in the "Patrick Mclanahan" series of novels by Dale Brown. NiRTS (Need it right this second) satellites developed by Jon Masters, which were deployed from a converted airliner using rockets to launch them into low earth orbits over trouble spots. A great series of techno/thrillers all about converted B1/B52's, Advanced battlesuits etc...and Patrick's adventures around the globe starting out in the first novel as a navigator on a B52 and ending the series as a General in charge of his high tech forces.
As I read the article it just reminded me of those novels.
Sounds like this is a case of life imitating art!This kinda reminds me of fictional satellites that were in the "Patrick Mclanahan" series of novels by Dale Brown. NiRTS (Need it right this second) satellites developed by Jon Masters, which were deployed from a converted airliner using rockets to launch them into low earth orbits over trouble spots. A great series of techno/thrillers all about converted B1/B52's, Advanced battlesuits etc...and Patrick's adventures around the globe starting out in the first novel as a navigator on a B52 and ending the series as a General in charge of his high tech forces.
As I read the article it just reminded me of those novels.
I really enjoyed the few Dale Brown books that I've read: Flight of the Old Dog, Hammerheads, Silver Tower.
Published on May 9, 2012 by DARPAtv
DARPA's SeeMe program aims to give mobile, US warfighters overseas access to on-demand, space-based tactical information in remote and beyond-line-of-sight conditions. If successful, SeeMe will provide timely imagery to warfighters of their immediate surroundings via handheld devices.
The SeeMe solicitation is at http://go.usa.gov/VyA.
"DARPA's SeeMe program aims to give mobile, US warfighters overseas access to on-demand, space-based tactical information in remote and beyond-line-of-sight conditions. If successful, SeeMe will provide timely imagery to warfighters of their immediate surroundings via handheld devices.""Warfighters"
Nothing on you my man, I just can't stand the term. I just know some middle aged overweight salesman coined it.
Just so you know, I'm truly not being purposefully offensive, sir.
Boeing Receives DARPA Airborne Satellite Launch Study Contract
- ALASA evaluates more-affordable ways to launch small satellites
- Boeing to draw on expertise in aircraft operations, launch systems and rapid prototyping
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., May 31, 2012
The Boeing Company has been awarded an 18-month study contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to evaluate technologies for on-demand small satellite launch systems.
Under the Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) contract, worth about $4.5 million, Boeing will analyze affordable, aircraft-based satellite launch platforms that can quickly deploy small satellites or payloads of up to 100 pounds into any required orbit.
"We will apply experience from across Boeing in aircraft and launch system development and operation, as well as our proven rapid prototyping skills, to offer an innovative analysis to support this important DARPA mission," said Steve Johnston, director of Advanced Space Exploration for Boeing Phantom Works. "ALASA will expand our knowledge of launch system solutions that can be integrated into existing operational aircraft with minimal modifications."
The goal of ALASA is to develop a significantly less expensive approach for routinely launching small satellites, with a goal of at least threefold reduction in costs compared with current military and U.S. commercial launch costs.
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=2271
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