Book Description
To provide enhanced satellite maneuvering capability at reduced cost, the United States Air Force (USAF) has developed a coordinated research program within the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the AFOSR European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD). Research direction for these efforts comes primarily from Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) in the form of a Strategic Master Plan (SMP). The SMP provides a 25-year AF plan, detailed in terms of near-term (2000-2007), mid-term (2008-2013), and far- term (2014-2025) development priorities. AFRL and AFOSR perform the mission analysis required to determine the optimal propulsion system for the AFSPC missions, and then develops research programs to develop the 4 technology needed to achieve these missions. EOARD interacts with AFRL and AFOSR to develop research at European laboratories that will directly feed into the AFOSR and AFRL research programs. Near-term missions are generally served through commercial contracts at the System Program Office (SPO) level.