Published: 2008
Total Pages: 109
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The Unites States' first space systems programs were initially developed to meet the requirements of strategic users. Since the 1991 Gulf War there has been a growing dependence on the capabilities and support delivered by these programs to meet the requirements of nonstrategic users. The current National Security Space (NSS) architecture makes it rather difficult for all but critical strategic users to fully capitalize on the available assets. Timelines that were once adequate to deliver strategic capabilities are now not sufficient to allow a broader range of users to realize the benefit from using the available space systems. In addition, nonstrategic users run into challenges when they attempt to change the tasking requirements that would enable them to receive associated products and services that are useful and timely. With the identified gaps in the current NSS environment, the Integrated Product Team (IPT), consisting of 10 active duty military students, sought solutions to make space more "Operationally Responsive" (ORS) to its customers by 2025. Due to limited time and assets, the IPT narrowed the focus of the project to the four Joint Publication (JP) 3-14 "Joint Doctrine for Space Operations" mission areas of Space Support, Space Control, Force Enhancement, and Force Application. During this project, the IPT defined ORS from its perspective, developed the requirements to meet the identified NSS gaps, selected the final alternatives to satisfy those requirements, and suggested an implementation plan. While in the architecture process, the IPT conducted an in-depth evaluation of the original alternatives based on Responsiveness, Risk, Capability, and Cost. After building a foundation for further analysis, a total of 16 alternatives were chosen for the final ORS architecture. The alternative that provided the most responsiveness was to create a Single Space Agency.