Spacelift 2025: The Supporting Pillar for Space Superiority
The US spacelift system in 2025 focuses on routine operations. The research and development (RD) mentality of past spacelift programs is replaced by the aircraft-like operations of a fully reusable spacelift system, operated by both commercial industry and a US Spacelift Wing. Though developed primarily as a practical and affordable alternative for orbital access, the multipurpose transatmospheric vehicle (MTV) is expanded into force enhancing missions like intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), global mobility, and strike. The MTV becomes the strategic strike platform of 2025. It can be flown manned or unmanned, depending on mission requirements, but it is primarily used in the unmanned mode. With the capability to efficiently accomplish the earth-to-orbit (ETO) mission as well as these other earth-to-earth (ETE) missions, the MTV is a flexible platform which strengthens all air and space core competencies. The MTV is complemented by the orbital transfer vehicle (OTV) for space orbital missions. After MTVs park satellites in low orbits, OTVs provide the additional thrust needed to push the payloads into higher energy orbits. OTVs also facilitate the maintenance of satellites in orbit by retrieving existing platforms for repair, refueling or rearming. Finally, OTVs give the spacelift system a rapid orbital sortie capability for deterrence, space control, reconnaissance, counterspace, and force application. This paper recommends Air Force support for NASA's X-33 transatmospheric reusability demonstration and investment in a follow-on military MTV and an initial OTV using today's technologies. Once routine operations are institutionalized with these first generation reusable systems, propulsion and material technology should be infused to provide a more capable system. This paper recommends avid support of RD funding needed to provide these technological advances.
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