Secrets Of The Space Force
One of the experiments, in partnership with the Naval Research Laboratory, involved converting solar power into microwave energy. Another aimed to test the durability of certain materials exposed to space conditions. A third experiment was designed to study the long-term effects of space radiation on seeds, in order to explore crop production and "the establishment of permanently inhabited bases in space."
Secrets of the Space Force
The Orbital Test Vehicle-6 (OTV-6) mission launched on May 17, 2020 from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida atop a specially modified Atlas V 501 rocket. As with the previous five OTV missions, the exact objectives of the Boeing-built, unmanned, reusable, autonomous spacecraft and the length of the mission were classified, though it also carried a number of open experiments for customers like NASA and the Naval Research Laboratory.
Surpassing the previous record of 780 days in orbit held by OTV-5, OTV-6 introduced a new service module. This ring-shaped module, which was attached to the stern of the spacecraft, provided more payload space for more experiments. Before OTV-6 reentered the atmosphere, the service module was jettisoned and will continue to orbit the Earth before making a controlled reentry to burn up somewhere over the South Pacific.
Among the experiments the spacecraft carried were the Naval Research Laboratory's Photovoltaic Radiofrequency Antenna Module to test the concept of harnessing solar rays and then transmitting power to the Earth using microwaves, and the US Air Force Academy's FalconSat-8 that was released and remains in orbit as a "hands-on" laboratory for Academy cadets.
In addition, NASA's Materials Exposure and Technology Innovation in Space (METIS-2) experiment exposed thermal control coatings, printed electronic materials, and candidate radiation shielding materials to the harsh conditions of space before returning them to Earth for analysis and comparison with computer models. On the biological side, another NASA payload exposed seeds to space to study the effects of cosmic radiation and other factors on potential crops grown on future space bases.
A secretive Space Force spaceplane streaked across Florida early Saturday, generating unmistakable sonic booms en route to a landing at Kennedy Space Center that wrapped up another record-breaking mission.
Dozens of sonic boom reports surfaced as X-37B, a robotic military spacecraft that looks like a miniature space shuttle, followed an eastern path across the state and eventually landed at KSC's Launch and Landing Facility. In a statement, the Space Force confirmed touchdown occurred at 5:22 a.m. EST.
All told, the 30-foot spaceplane spent 908 days in low-Earth orbit, shattering the previous record of 780 days. Its purpose is largely a secret, but the Department of Defense says some of its secondary duties include hosting military research payloads, science experiments, and even NASA investigations.
The spacecraft launches vertically on rockets like United Launch Alliance's Atlas V and SpaceX's Falcon 9, then lands like a plane at KSC. This specific mission, labeled OTV-6, took flight on an Atlas V rocket in May 2020.
"With the successful completion of its sixth mission the reusable spaceplane has now flown over 1.3 billion miles and spent a total of 3,774 days in space," Boeing, which built both X-37Bs in service, said in a statement. "It conducts experiments for government and industry partners with the ability to return them to Earth for evaluation."
Boeing operates an X-37B processing facility next to the Vehicle Assembly Building at KSC, which is only about two miles from the LLF's runway in a straight line. After landing, the spaceplanes are transported to the hangar there, processed, then prepped for liftoff on another rocket.
Space Force members overseeing the unmanned spacecraft are part of the newly established mission delta unit known as Delta 9, according to the service. The Drive was first to point out that the X-37B, previously under the purview of the Air Force, has found a new home.
Delta 9's Detachment 1 "oversees operations of the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, an experimental program designed to demonstrate technologies for a reliable, reusable, unmanned space test platform for the U.S. Space Force," according to the unit's fact sheet.
The Space Force is in the process of standing up its three primary field commands and its subordinate units transferring from the Air Force: Space Operations Command, Space Systems Command and Space Training and Readiness Command, which will be responsible for training space professionals; acquiring space systems from industry; and supporting combatant commanders with space force personnel and capabilities.
Nine Space Deltas fall under Space Operations Command, according to a chart published last week. Delta 9 consists of three active-duty squadrons headquartered at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado: 1st Space Operations Squadron, 3rd Space Operations Squadron and 750th Operations Support Squadron, along with Detachment 1. The three squadrons conduct "protect-and-defend operations from space and provide response options to deter and defeat adversary threats in space," according to the chart.
Since 2010, the X-37B has been used to explore the practicalities and risks of "reusable space vehicle technologies," according to the Air Force. The low-earth orbit vehicle, which often carries classified payloads, completed its fifth unmanned space mission last year, spending 780 days in space and breaking the previous record of 718 days. The test vehicle can autonomously re-enter the atmosphere and land on a flight line.
One NASA experiment will "study the results of radiation and other space effects on [specific] materials," while the other will research "ambient space radiation" effects on seeds used to grow food, Barrett said.
To be clear, it is important for the Space Force, like the other military services, to explain their role and mission to the American people. Among other things, doing so attracts the young women and men who will be the future of the Space Force. The average American may not fully understand what exactly the Space Force is supposed to do. The Space Force has an opportunity and a responsibility to help Americans understand why space is important for security as well as exploration.
What does delivering results look like? The Space Force has generally outlined a good vision for the future. In addition, the Space Force should focus on standing out from the other services, defining responsible behavior in space, growing partnerships with allies and partners, laying out a 20-year vision, championing the U.S. commercial space renaissance, and achieving acquisition excellence.
The Space Force is only 15 months old, and is still establishing itself. It is surrounded by legacy business processes, in both the executive and legislative branches, that make it hard to move quickly and leverage commercial innovation while a flat budget will prevent progress in some areas. And building a new culture of speed and innovation, on top of legacy organizations, is difficult. At the same time, China and Russia are moving fast to bolster their military space capabilities.
Justin T. Johnson previously performed the duties of the assistant secretary of defense for space policy in the U.S. Department of Defense. Prior to that, he worked directly for the secretary of defense and played a key role in establishing the U.S. Space Force. You can follow him on Twitter at @jus10j.
The latest draft of the annual defense policy bill, or National Defense Authorization Act, for the 2022 Fiscal Year includes a provision that would require the Pentagon to conduct a declassification review of every classified program that the U.S. Space Force is presently managing. Much of the U.S. military's space-related activities are highly classified, which has often made it difficult for officials to publicly discuss what they are doing now and advocate for increased funding and other support for new and improved capabilities. The disclosure of certain capabilities, even in part, could also help deter attacks on American assets in orbit, which a senior Space Force officer recently revealed are happening "every single day."
It is, of course, important to note that there is no requirement here to actually declassify anything. However, U.S. military officials and members of Congress have been increasingly pushing for reducing the level of classification surrounding American space-based and related capabilities in recent years for a number of reasons.
One immediate benefit from reducing the levels of classification surrounding U.S. military activities in or related to space would simply be the ability of the Space Force to just be more open about what it does. While there is certainly a need for operational security to help the U.S. military maintain its competitive edge in space, classified programs typically cover higher-end, often expensive capabilities where extreme secrecy can just as often limit their impact as help it depending on the exact circumstances. Beyond that, less classification would allow the Space Force to better promote its mission and otherwise advocate for itself publicly, which could help with recruitment and securing funding for priority projects.
Even before Space Force was formally established last year, U.S. Air Force officials had lamented how the many layers of secrecy made it difficult to just talk publicly about space-related activities and the ever-growing national security issues facing the United States outside the Earth's atmosphere.
How the high degree of classification surrounding space-based and related capabilities impact public discussions of the potential threats assets in orbit is an important issue at play here. Russia and China in particular have fielded various anti-satellite capabilities and are in the process of developing more. These include, but are not limited to terrestrial anti-satellite interceptors, directed energy weapons that can at least disrupt the functioning of certain kinds of satellites, and on-orbit systems. The latter category consists of so-called "killer satellites," which are small types capable of maneuvering close to their targets in space and then attacking them in various ways, such as firing projectiles or even just simply trying to smash into them. 041b061a72