Operationally Responsive Space Office
Encyclopedia
The Operationally Responsive Space Office (ORS Office) is a joint initiative of several agencies within the United States Department of Defense
(DoD). The "stand up" of the office took place 2007-05-21 at Kirtland Air Force Base
. The first director of the ORS Office is Col. Kevin McLaughlin, who is also commander of the Space Development and Test Wing
located at Kirtland. The ORS Office will focus on smaller satellite
s, such as the Tactical Satellite Program
, smaller launch vehicle
s, and on making the capabilities they provide available to DoD users quickly.
Organizations that have been involved in ORS activities to date include the United States Army
, the United States Navy
, DARPA, the National Reconnaissance Office
, the Missile Defense Agency
and NASA
.
The ORS Office is implementing a rapid innovation process using a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) to facilitate rapid assembly, integration, and test (AI&T), deployment, and operations of space assets into the current space architecture in operationally relevant timelines. The ORS Office focuses on material (spacecraft, launch, range payloads) and non-material solutions (business model, acquisition, policy, industrial base, training, command and control, tasking, exploitation, processing, & dissemination, concept of operations), and collaborates with national and international agencies to leverage existing investments and develop long-term relationships.
announced its Trailblazer spacecraft bus had been selected by the ORS Office as the primary payload to fly on its Jumpstart mission. The Jumpstart payload was carried by the third Falcon 1
flight, which launched from Kwajalein in August 2008 but failed to reach orbit.
is the first on-orbit Department of Defense intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability delivered to U.S. Strategic Command for their direct imagery support to worldwide combatant commanders. TacSat-3 complements the wide array of Intelligence Community Combat Support Agencies and other space-based ISR systems which provide information to warfighters.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
(DoD). The "stand up" of the office took place 2007-05-21 at Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base
Kirtland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located in the southeast quadrant of the Albuquerque, New Mexico urban area, adjacent to the Albuquerque International Sunport. The base was named for the early Army aviator Col. Roy C. Kirtland...
. The first director of the ORS Office is Col. Kevin McLaughlin, who is also commander of the Space Development and Test Wing
Space Development and Test Wing
The Space Development and Test Wing is a unit of the Space Command of the United States Air Force. The wing is located at Kirtland Air Force Base in Albuquerque, New Mexico.-Mission:...
located at Kirtland. The ORS Office will focus on smaller satellite
Satellite
In the context of spaceflight, a satellite is an object which has been placed into orbit by human endeavour. Such objects are sometimes called artificial satellites to distinguish them from natural satellites such as the Moon....
s, such as the Tactical Satellite Program
Tactical Satellite Program
During the second half of 2002, the Naval Research Laboratory studied the tactical application of space assets. Relatively new technologies and processes in the areas of micro-satellites, affordable and quick-response launch vehicles, and the classified SIPRNET made tactical use of space assets...
, smaller launch vehicle
Launch vehicle
In spaceflight, a launch vehicle or carrier rocket is a rocket used to carry a payload from the Earth's surface into outer space. A launch system includes the launch vehicle, the launch pad and other infrastructure....
s, and on making the capabilities they provide available to DoD users quickly.
Organizations that have been involved in ORS activities to date include the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, DARPA, the National Reconnaissance Office
National Reconnaissance Office
The National Reconnaissance Office , located in Chantilly, Virginia, is one of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. It designs, builds, and operates the spy satellites of the United States government.-Mission:...
, the Missile Defense Agency
Missile Defense Agency
The Missile Defense Agency is the section of the United States government's Department of Defense responsible for developing a layered defense against ballistic missiles. The agency has its origins in the Strategic Defense Initiative, which was established in 1983 and was headed by Lt...
and NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
.
Leadership
Dr Peter Wegner took over as the ORS Director in May 2008. Dr Wegner is in charge of responding to the urgent needs of the Joint Force Commanders and establishing the enabling infrastructure to complement the existing space architecture.History
The Joint ORS Office is working with the broader space community to provide “assured space power focused on timely satisfaction of Joint Force Commanders’ needs.” The end state of the ORS concept is the ability to address emerging, persistent, and/or unanticipated needs through timely augmentation, reconstitution, and exploitation of space force enhancement, space control, and space support capabilities.The ORS Office is implementing a rapid innovation process using a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) to facilitate rapid assembly, integration, and test (AI&T), deployment, and operations of space assets into the current space architecture in operationally relevant timelines. The ORS Office focuses on material (spacecraft, launch, range payloads) and non-material solutions (business model, acquisition, policy, industrial base, training, command and control, tasking, exploitation, processing, & dissemination, concept of operations), and collaborates with national and international agencies to leverage existing investments and develop long-term relationships.
Mission
The Joint ORS Office is taking a new approach to risk and mission assurance to rapidly deploy capabilities that are good enough to satisfy warfighter needs across the entire spectrum of operations, from peacetime through conflict.Jumpstart
On May 29, 2008 SpaceDevSpaceDev
SpaceDev, a part of the "Space Systems Business" of Sierra Nevada Corporation, is prominent for its spaceflight and microsatellite work. It designed and built the hybrid rocket motors for Paul Allen's Tier One suborbital SpaceShipOne space program operated by Scaled Composites...
announced its Trailblazer spacecraft bus had been selected by the ORS Office as the primary payload to fly on its Jumpstart mission. The Jumpstart payload was carried by the third Falcon 1
Falcon 1
The Falcon 1 is a partially reusable launch system designed and manufactured by SpaceX, a space transportation company in Hawthorne, California. The two-stage-to-orbit rocket uses LOX/RP-1 for both stages, the first powered by a single Merlin engine and the second powered by a single Kestrel engine...
flight, which launched from Kwajalein in August 2008 but failed to reach orbit.
ORS-1
June 29th, 2011 ORS-1 was launched from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island. . ORS-1 LaunchTacSat-3
TacSat-3TacSat-3
TacSat-3 is the third in a series of U.S. military reconnaissance satellites. It was assembled in an Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate facility at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico. The TacSat satellites are all designed to demonstrate the ability to provide real-time data...
is the first on-orbit Department of Defense intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability delivered to U.S. Strategic Command for their direct imagery support to worldwide combatant commanders. TacSat-3 complements the wide array of Intelligence Community Combat Support Agencies and other space-based ISR systems which provide information to warfighters.