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Death Satellite Program

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A book could be written about this program — called by the New York Times 'perhaps the most spectacular and expensive failure in the 50-year history of American spy satellite programs.' In summary, NRO decided to develop optical and radar imagery satellites that were smaller, lighter and less expensive than the current satellites. Conceptual architectural studies began in 1996, but it wasn't until 1999 that Boeing was awarded the optical and radar-imaging satellite contracts.

Iran Guard Reveals Secret Space Program in Satellite Launch. If the high end of the forecast plays out, it would mean an increase of roughly 25,000 lives from where the death toll stands now. At the time of his death, he was a USAF astronaut candidate in the Manned Orbiting Laboratory (MOL) program, which had planned to use small space stations as reconnaissance platforms. That program was cancelled in 1969, and seven members of the MOL program eventually flew on the Space Shuttle. Death of a Spy Satellite Program. Case Study 12: Death of a Spy Satellite Program Identify and explain the role of key actors who have influence over the budgetary process Explain how the budgetary constraints led to the outcome of the case Discuss the politics involved with the budgetary process. Sep 02, 2020  Case Study: Death of a Spy Satellite Program. Read the following article and respond to the following questions. Discussion should be about 1-2 pages in length.

What is the Topic: Death of a Spy Satellite Program What were the factors in the case that forced the program to overrun their budget? O Budgeting utilizes managerial values to lower costs and increase productivity. O Budgeting Process: Estimating the revenue and expenses over a specific future period of time.

Boeing had underbid Lockheed Martin by a billion dollars. It was a very surprising selection since Lockheed Martin had supplied all the then-current imaging spacecraft — optical and radar — and Boeing had never built the kind of satellites the government was seeking. By 2005, an estimated $10 billion had been spent, twice the original estimate of $5 billion. Most analysts believe FIA was destined to fail because the technol- ogy needed to meet requirements wasn't mature, there wasn't enough funding, the schedule was unrealistic and the selection criteria and source selection process for the space element of FIA were flawed.

FIA - RECSAT - New Electro-Optical IMINT Satellite Concept Hardware Compromise

Boeing Concept:

On the one hand we have the original FIA, RECSAT design concept of Boeing now cancelled that can be roughly defined. Refx nexus 2 mac free trial. The one RECSAT-FIA design concept in all details that has been developed here reflects its present status design heritage up to cancellation. Many of the applicable technologies were displayed in the very successful Boeing Orbital Express spacecraft design details and conceptual architecture. The FIA spacecraft has been in its original concept described as being a family of relatively small spacecraft that finally will make it possible to field a stealth black body like spacecraft so that it could actually perform its undetected imagery mission. It was also to be battle hardened for nuclear war, laser or ASAT attack with the ability to defend itself or go on the offensive based on vendor documents and open source literature. The latest FIA related technology development is reflected in the two spacecraft seen in the Boeing, Orbital Express and Ball aerospace literature brochures for the successful two satellite rendezvous propellant transfer demonstration. Presumably it closely mimics the original FIA spacecraft technology design intent. The fueling operation was to provide for propellant transfer or propellant service module replacement to give the spacecraft high maneuverability to carry out and extend it mission and even upgrade its sub systems modules repeatedly.

Boeing Related Technologies

Boeing & Lockheed Martin Related Technologies

Boeing Delta-4 Shroud Technologies

The spacecraft was expected to be eight sided multi radar deflecting paneled design for stealth purposes as well as being perhaps greater than half the length of a advanced Crystal with odd shaped radar deflecting solar arrays. The bottom line is the FIA's optical imaging IMINT spacecraft went from bug automobile size to larger than SUV size approaching tractor trailer eighteen wheeler size before Lockheed received it renewal contract. This was due to the optical physics and nuclear, laser, ASAT, stealth, thermal control and general spacecraft battle hardening technology requirements. Some are still of the opinion that FIA misty follow-on was to be trunk of a large car size but it in fact grew vastly larger than that and the concept died real fast due to the optics issues. This by definition is not Misty follow-on as it was understood but is by definition the FIA spacecraft's of Boeing that may also resemble some of the MicroSat systems design but more stealthier and battle hardened etc. Alternatively they could have used the one developed by Boeing as a sub contract. The 'S' like shaped solar arrays is probable Lockheed from the Boeing project efforts on the X-37 program or from the Orbital Express program. This has presented two alternative solar array designs. Boeing did not make the mistake of TFX to try and do both FIA programs with a common system one fits all approach, Rather they decided to break it up between two divisions of Boeing working to their strengths with one actually successful while the IMINT division lost the effort and that should have been understood.

FIA, RECSAT Problems According to the New York Times: (1, 8)

1. Problem - Flawed Gyro-dynes from the manufacturer used for precise orientation control

2. Problem - Do not use Tin on the spacecraft or its systems

3. Problem - Combining close-up & wide field of view imagery capability in the same system

Never attempted successfully before became nearly impossible to accomplish

4. Problem - Control systems integrated circuitry defects and cabling defects

5. Problem – Lockheed Martin reopened the Advanced Crystal Production line with updates

The Follow-on Advanced Crystal was scheduled for launch in 2009 but has now slipped to 2010.

6. Problem - Three billion over budget and behind schedule with a far larger projected budge

than could or would be tolerated in representative government

Death Satellite Program For Tv

Speculating on the Boeing Bus, Solar Arrays and External Body Stealth Design for FIA

Close study of the FIA related technology development is reflected in the two spacecraft seen in the Boeing, Orbital Express and Ball aerospace literature brochures for the successful two satellite rendezvous propellant transfer demonstration. The FIA RECSAT bus from an external appearance appears to very closely resemble the Bus-1 design of Lockheed Martin surrounded by a stealth eight sided shell radar evasive panels but it size grew from a smaller design of similar size and characteristics to the equivalent of the Bus-1 size similar to those used on the Advanced Crystal and apparently the Derivation Misty design. Boeing originally developed a Bus design concept for application to the ISS based on the ISS Node-X, (Ref. Node-X Design Concept - Alternate propulsion module Assessment team-NASA) (dry Node-X = 17,967.1 lbs, with its propulsion elements dry equaling 11,301.4 lbs wet 18,100.6 lbs) Alternate propulsion module or service module which was a reverse engineering design to that adapt to ISS for adaptation for shuttle flight that in many respects resembled the Lockheed Martin Bus-1 hardware. The new design developed by Boeing designed out the Shuttle related Trunnion's for shuttle Node-X launch to a self supporting bus. This also implies that the six propellant tanks of the original Bus-1 design was changed to four tanks with a propellant mass/volume increase as seem in the MSFC ISS Node-X designs which seems very similar to the Bus-1 design. This bus supports both the instrument section and the telescope without fairing or Titan Payload Adapter very different from the previous Advanced Crystal, & Misty-1 design.

Lockheed is the curved solar array vendor as seen in the Lockheed solar array vendor document (Ref. Lockheed Missile & Space Company Solar Arrays – Fact sheets 10-85) and from both the President G. W. Bush (Senior) NARA Presidential Library Crystal RECSAT model display. These curved faceted solar arrays are made of battle hardened Gallium Arsenate and are designed to be folded and wrapped around the telescope barrel during launch. The radiator paned which are deployed with the solar arrays are designed to be launched folded around the Bus were probably developed by Boeing Hughes division. Both the Bus and Telescope optical system of the entire spacecraft is covered by radar evasive faceted stealth material panels on eight sides.

References:

1. Philip Taubman, In Death of Spy Satellite Program, Lofty Plans and Unrealistic Bids, The New York Times, November 11, 2007 , p. 1, 20, & 21.

8. http://www.globalsecurity.org/intell/systems/fia.htm , Future Imagery Architecture [FIA]

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