Air Force Research Lab’s Space Vehicles Directorate at Kirtland AFB, N.M., has produced the tactical satellite-2 within 24 months, a feat that previously would have taken 10 years or so, according to a directorate release. TacSat-2 is the progenitor for USAF’s responsive spacecraft effort, aiming to design, construct, test, and deliver a mission-ready satellite within 15 months and launch it at a week’s notice. TacSat-2, now slated to launch in December, has received much “high-level” interest within DOD and Congress, says program manager Neal Peck. He believes that spacecraft like TacSat-2—low in cost and with shorter life spans than current platforms—will not “become [technology] obsolete and the federal government will save a lot of money.”
The Space Development Agency says it’s on track to issue its next batch of missile warning and tracking satellite contracts this month after those awards were delayed by the Pentagon’s decision to divert funds from the agency to pay troops during this fall’s prolonged government shutdown.
