TERRY PHILLIPSSchafer Corp

HOT EAGLEHOT EAGLE

High Operations Tempo High Operations Tempo Energetic Access to Globe Energetic Access to Globe

and Launch Experimentand Launch Experiment

Marine OperationsMarine OperationsUsingUsing

Space TransportationSpace Transportation

DANIEL P. RAYMER, Ph.D.Conceptual Research Corporation

December 2005

p 2

Overview

• Marine SUSTAIN Operations

• CONOPS and Physics for Marine Lander

• Stepping Stones to Capability

• CRC Contract and Organization

• High Mass Fraction

• HOT EAGLE Potential Architectures

• HOT EAGLE Structure, Propulsion

• RUS Configurations

• Marine Payload

• Unpowered Lander

• HOT EAGLE Demonstrator

• Summary

p 3

Draft ICD for Small Unit Space Transport and Insertion (SUSTAIN)

• Defines Capacity for JFC to Rapidly Transport Strategic Capabilities to Any Point on Globe

• Addresses Rapid Employment of Tailored Expeditionary Forces from CONUS Including Use of National Security Space (NSS)

Material Approaches1) Increased Forward Presence

2) Evolutionary Improvements to Conventional Assault Support

3) Revolutionary Improvements to Terrestrial Aviation Capabilities

4) Space Insertion-Terrestrial Extraction

5) Space Insertion and Extraction with Refueling

6) Space Insertion and Extraction without Refueling

Marine BGen Richard C Zilmer, Commander 29 Palms Training Command:

“We briefed the Pentagon, Congress, USSOCOM, and the NSC and were never thrown out.

25-30 years from now the idea is to move a squad-sized unit of Marines to any

place on Earth in less than two hours.”

p 4

Basic CONOPS

Supports SOCOM Space Enabling Concept Requirement, 18 Mar 04UNS Marine Requirement, 13 Jul 02

• Stealthy, Survivable• Transport of 13 Troops & Equipment• Launch on Demand• Unrefueled transport• No overflight restrictions

Multiple Boost Options

First Order Assessment: Doable

Booster RTLS

Multiple Stage Options

One CONOPS

p 5

Upfront Conclusions

• Marine Insertion Mission Fits in the Physics Box

• Medium Lift (~20Klb) RLVs Give Space Insertion and Terrestrial Extraction Capabilities

• Heavy Lift (~60Klb) RLVs Give Space Insertion and 500-1000 nm Space Extraction Capability

• Future Evolutions in Propulsion and Lightweight Structures Can Improve these Capabilities

• On-Orbit Refueling Offers Enhanced Capability if Operations Evolve in that Direction

• Shipboard Recovery Can Increase Operational Flexibility

• Stepping Stones to SUSTAIN are Clear Cut and Easily Defined

p 6

Space Insertion – Terrestrial Extraction

Light Weight Structure Evolution

• Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) Resupply– Maneuvering reentry vehicle

– GPS guided parafoil final descent

– CONUS launch

– 1000 lb payload currently

• Unpowered Marine Lander Team Insertion– 20Klb class vehicle

– Capacity: Marine squad plus equipment

– Trajectory optimized for low “g” with resulting light weight structure

– Integral life support

– 2 hours maximum from launch to insertion

– Stealthy insertion

• Multiple Team Extraction Concepts

p 7

Heavy Lift RLV and Powered LanderGlobal Insertion & Limited Range Extraction

• Heavy-Lift Vehicle – Many Options– Launches full-propellant Marine lander as third stage

– Once around operations

– Traditional modular approaches will work

• RLV Uses Only Landing Propellant during Insertion– Landing propellant only 10-12% of propellant load

– Most propellant reserved for extraction

– Limited Stealth

• VTVL Lander Extracts Team– Recovers in-theater or onboard ship

– 500-1000 nm range

Close to Desired Marine Capability

No CONUS Direct Return Possible Initially

Mass Fraction Improvements could Enable Longer Range Returns

p 8

Team Extraction Options

UnPowered

• Self Extraction – Hike Out– Destroy Lander

• Aircraft/Helicopter/Ship– Osprey / C-17 / C-130

– Destroy Lander

• Lander Pick Up Via Aircraft/Helicopter– Lander separates from aeroshell and life support

– Fulton Extraction - Lander pick-up via balloon cable and C-17

Powered

• Self Extraction – Powered

– Limited Range of 500-1,000 nm Initially

– Extract to safe base or ship at sea

• Aerial Pick Up Via Aircraft Reduces Boost Propellant

– Boost to aircraft rendezvous – snag and tow

– Boost to parasail glide – snag and tow

p 9

e Recovery:Aerial Tow-Back

• Use converted tanker boom system as tow bar (call AAA)

• Aircraft with engines out were towed by tankers in Vietnam conflict

• KC-10, B-1 & C-17 are likely candidates

Hot EagleConceptual Research Corporation: The Science of the Possible

p 10

Summary

• 13 Marines and Equipment Anywhere in 2 Hours has Huge Commercial Implications

– Commercial architecture actually simpler

• Technology Challenges are Mass Fraction and Reliability

• Initial Looks are Very Promising

• Qualifies as DARPA Hard but Extremely Worthwhile

• Evolution to Military and Commercial Capability has Clearly Defined Stepping Stones