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

SIPRNet

The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment"...

 (Secret Internet Protocol Router Network) made tactical use of space assets possible in the relatively near term. The DOD’s Office of Force Transformation (OFT) agreed with the core findings of the study and decided to start an Operationally Responsive Space Initiative consisting of a series of experiments. TacSat-1 is the first experiment in this OFT initiative. The TacSat-1 experiment received go-ahead on May 7, 2003.

The TacSat series of experimental spacecraft are designed to allow military commanders on a battlefield to request and obtain imagery and other data from a satellite as it passes overhead. Collected data will be delivered to field commanders in minutes rather than hours or days.

All TacSats have been launched on Minotaur rockets.

These series of spacecraft should not be confused with the Tacomsat program in 1969.

TacSats:

• TacSat-1
  TacSat-1
  TacSat-1 is an experimental satellite built by the Naval Research Laboratory on behalf of the United States Department of Defense Office of Force Transformation . The second satellite in the series, TacSat-2, has already been launched. It is the planned payload of the sixth launch of the SpaceX...
  
   - Estimated 2009 launch
• TacSat-2
  TacSat-2
  TacSat-2 is an experimental satellite built by the USAF's Air Force Research Laboratory with an operational life expected to be not more than one year as part of the 'Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration' program.-Purpose:The TacSat series of experimental spacecraft are designed to allow...
  
   - Launched 16 December 2006
• TacSat-3
  TacSat-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...
  
   - Launched 19 May 2009 http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/TacSat3052109.xml
• TacSat-4
  TacSat-4
  TacSat-4 is the fourth in a series of U.S. military experimental reconnaissance and communication satellites. The Naval Research Laboratory is the program manager. The Office of Naval Research sponsored the development of the payload and funded the first year of operations...
  
   - In design, launch date September 26, 2011
• TacSat-5
  TacSat-5
  TacSat-5 is a planned fifth satellite in a series of U.S. military reconnaissance satellites. The project will be managed by the Air Force Research Laboratory in cooperation with the Operationally Responsive Space Office of the Department of Defense...
  
  - Conceptual

External links

• http://www.responsivespace.com/ - Conference, yearly, that has content that includes Tacsat
• http://www.nrl.navy.mil/content.php?P=04REVIEW207
• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/tacsat-2/main/