Plug and Play Satellites: Short Order Space Capability

PNP Satellite Concept (click to view full) The era of the huge military satellite programs that cost tens of billions of dollars appears to be over. At least as far as the US Congress is concerned. Last year, lawmakers shut down the $20 billion plus Transformational Communications Satellite (TSAT) System program after huge costs overrruns and skepticism about the system’s unproven technology. At the same time, the US Air Force is moving ahead with development of small satellites that can be developed quickly in response to tactical needs and launched within days. These small satellites would be constructed using preexisting modules to meet the communications and ISR needs of commanders in the field. They are called plug-and-play (PNP) satellites and are being developed by the US Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). AFRL recently awarded a contract worth up to $200 million for work on the PNP satellite architecture… (more…)

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Tags: americas - usa, billion-plus, dollars-appears, force-research, lawmakers-shut, moving-ahead, outer space, satellite, satellites-and, system, tactical-needs

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