STRATDELA Special #10: Let's Space! Rapidly.
stratdela.ruRapid Launch So Rapid
In recent years, we have witnessed a radical change in the field of space launch services. SpaceX's efforts to reduce the cost of launching medium and heavy launch vehicles using partially reusable systems are among the primary drivers of this change. They, together with the developments in electronics, opened the way to the construction of fundamentally new satellite constellations of hundreds and even thousands of small satellites. The most famous is Starlink (and military-focused Starshield), but the US Space Force is building its own PWSA megaconstellation, which will be designed, in addition to communications, to provide missile launch early warning capability, support missile defense with target designation for ballistic targets and hypersonic gliders, as well as reconnaissance.
The new stage of the space militarization include not only the payload launch cost reduction. There is growing interest in the prompt, rapid launch (and re-launch) of small satellites in the shortest possible time after the order to do so. Traditional launch service providers are not very suitable for this. Their work is scheduled for months and even years in advance, logistics and infrastructure are designed for long-term preparations and operations. It is difficult to find even a free launch pad for "big" rockets on demand these days, especially now in the United States, when the existing space infrastructure is extremely overstretched by the ever-increasing number of launches.
Tactical. Responsive. Space.
The Space Force Tactically Responsive Space (TacRS) program is aimed at solving this problem. Within its framework the third launch was carried out in 2023, a Firefly Aerospace Alpha rocket was used for the launch.
The second launch under the program, which was then called "Tactically Responsive Launch" (TacRL), was carried out back in 2021 using a Northrop Grumman Pegasus XL air-launched launch vehicle from the company's modified L-1011 "TriStar" airliner with its own name "Stargazer". To understand the complexity of the task and today's achievements, a few years ago it was considered cool to do it in three weeks!
The first launch within the framework of the "Tactically Responsive Launch", retroactively, was an attempt to launch the Trailblazer demonstrator satellite in August 2008, which turned out to be a failure due to the launch vehicle accident. This rocket was the Falcon-1 of the young startup SpaceX.
The TacRS-3 mission, also known as the Victus Nox (also known as the name for the satellite deployed), completed on September 14, successfully launched a Millennium Space satellite into orbit.
Most importantly, it was done in compliance with the time requirements at all stages, which were described in sufficient detail:
- During the Build Phase, the satellite and rocket were built, the satellite is significantly faster than usual. After the end of production, the satellite creator and launch service providers moved to the Hot-Standby Phase, waiting for the Space Force team.
- After this command came the Activation Phase. The satellite had to be delivered to the spaceport, checked, refueled and the integration with the rocket checked. This must be done 60 hours after the order (they managed to do it in 58). The system must be in the Alert Phase for up to 6 months
- from the Alert Phase state after the order comes the Launch Phase. The launch should be made after the order within 24 hours (this time after 27, but still considered a success, because the rocket was ready, and they were just waiting for optimal weather conditions)
- after launch, the Initialization Phase begins. Communication with the satellite must be established, it must be checked and put into operation within no more than 48 hours (this time it was possible to do it in 37)
The satellite is operated by operators from the 3rd Test and Evaluation Squadron Space Delta 12, Schriever Space Force Base. Other units involved include 20th Space Surveillance Squadron, 18th Space Defense Squadron, 19th Space Defense Squadron, all from Space Delta 2, Peterson Space Force Base.
This forms a completely understandable image of the Tactically Responsive mission - Space Force wants to get the opportunity, after receiving information about the upcoming launch of the opponents' satellite, to quickly prepare their inspector satellite for launch, then, after launching the target and determining its orbital parameters, send their device to intercept, sorry, to inspect. If earlier this was said allegorically, now they talk about goals quite openly when discussing the next TacRS mission:
“Victus Haze is about continuing to break those paradigms and to show how we would rapidly put up a space domain awareness capability and operate it in real time against a threat,” Vice Chief of Space Operations Gen. Michael Guetlein
“… to launch within 24 hours of notice, match the orbital plane of a previously unknown object, and conduct rendezvous and proximity operations for inspection and characterization on an operationally relevant timeline,” Space Force budget FY2025
“… there will likely not be a commercial end user that needs a responsive launch and a capability on target within the next couple of years. But the government absolutely will need it.” David Ryan, space portfolio manager at the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU)
It is also striking that a separate division with a self-explanatory name - Space Safari Program Office - is engaged in such missions.
So. the next mission within the framework of TacRS, planned for 2025, was named Victus Haze. The official announcement of the launch service provider and the issuance of the contract were expected in April 2024. So far, it is known about time parameters are similar to those performed by Victus Nox, at least that is indicated in the request for information for industry. During the mission, they will probably try to surpass the indicators of the previous launch. From the point of view of interaction within the Pentagon, it is important that not only the Space Force, but also the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) take an active part in this mission. The satellite itself is also likely to differ in capabilities: it is reported that it will have to actively maneuver evading (or pursuing?) some kind of "real-time threat".
The next, fifth mission within the framework of TacRS, Victus Sol, is planned as the first operational mission. Perhaps this means that it will be aimed at intercepting (inspecting) a real Chinese or Russian satellite. Its launch is scheduled for late 2025 - early 2026, and with it Space Force plans to demonstrate initial operational capabilities for Tactically Responsive Space.
TacRS launch service providers
Firefly Alpha Rocket
It was used during the Victus Nox mission. Of the four launches, only the Victus Nox is fully successful, two more are Partial failures. Despite such statistics, the rocket has a significant portfolio of orders - 5 launches are planned for 2024.
The payload to low Earth orbit (LEO, 300 km) is 1,030 kg, sun-synchronous orbit (SSO, 500 km) is 630 kg.
For launches, it is planned to primarily use a converted launch pad based on Vandenberg, although plans for launches with Cape Canaveral are also announced.
ABL Space Systems RS1 rocket
Unsuccessful launch in January 2023. In 2024, it is planned to resume testing.
The payload to low Earth orbit (LEO, 300 km) is 1,300 kg, sun-synchronous orbit (SSO, 500 km) is 960 kg.
An easily deployable mobile infrastructure is used for launches.
The next test launches are planned from the test site on Kodiak Island off the coast of Alaska.
In the future, in particular, launches are planned from the new British spaceport on the island in Scotland.
Rocket Lab Electron Rocket
The most popular of the light launch vehicles in operation today. At the end of March 2024, 45 launches were carried out, most of them successful. Many in the interests of US government customers. On the basis of Electron, the HASTE missile was created to test hypersonic gliders. An obstacle to participating in TacRS for Rocket Lab may be the workload of commercial and government orders.
The payload to low Earth orbit (LEO, 300 km) is 280 kg, sun-synchronous orbit (SSO, 500 km) is 200 kg.
For launches, Mahia's sites in New Zealand's North Island and MARS (Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport) on Wallops Island in Virginia are used.
Astra Rocket 4
Astra has made nine attempts to launch its family of launch vehicles under the "creative" name – simply “Rocket”. The version currently being promoted bears the name Rocket 4. Of the attempts, only two launches were successful, which put the company on the verge of bankruptcy. Its prospects are still unclear, but it has the support of US government customers, including Space Force and the aforementioned Defense Innovation Unit (DIU).
The payload to low Earth orbit (LEO, 300 km) is 550 kg, sun-synchronous orbit (SSO, 500 km) is 350 kg.
Most of the company's launches were carried out from the Pacific Spaceport Complex on Alaska, but there were also two unsuccessful launches with Cape Canaveral. It is planned to expand the spaceport network, indicating the possibility of deploying additional launch sites for the customer "with minimal existing launch infrastructure required".
Other players?
China is probably developing analogues of the Tactically Responsive Space. This is the simplest explanation for its development of a family of light launch vehicles based on road-mobile ICBMs (e.g., Kuaizhou-1) and "sea launches" with a number of missiles (Long March-11, Jielong-3, Ceres-1, Gravity-1).
Russia also demonstrated interest in using ICBMs nearing end of their service for space launches, however commercial ‘light’ launch vehicles are practically non-existent.
Given the sad state of European space launch capabilities, some light launch vehicles might be interesting for the EU.
Countries like Japan and South Korea, and Iran demonstrated a number of related capabilities, so we will be watching this space (see what I did there).
Space race is on, and it remains to be seen if we will be able to keep it manageable. Personally, I have serious doubts, that does not mean that we should stop trying.
Sources used:
https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/trailblazer.htm
https://fireflyspace.com/alpha/
https://ablspacesystems.com/rs1/
https://ablspacesystems.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ABL-Payload-Users-Guide-2022-V1.pdf
https://www.rocketlabusa.com/launch/electron/
https://astra.com/launch-services/