(U) U.S. National Security requirements dictate a continuing and highly reliable means of placing satellites into space.
(U) The Titan IV is the primary U.S. heavy lift vehicle and the Titan II launch vehicle currently provides medium lift capabilities. The Titan IV is a heavy-lift space launch vehicle used to carry DoD payloads such as Defense Support Program (DSP) and Milstar satellites into space. Titan II is a medium-lift space launch vehicle used to carry payloads for USAF, NASA and NOAA. The more capable medium lift launch vehicles with upper stage booster system combinations are the Atlas with Centaur and Delta with Payload Assist Modules (PAM-D). Respectively, both support Defense Satellite Communications Systems (DSCS) communications spacecraft and the NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation semi-synchronous altitude circular orbit spacecraft as well as classified National user and Space Test Program (STP) spacecraft launches.
(U) The Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Program includes the development of both medium and heavy lift variants (MLVs & HLVs) intended to replace the current Atlas, Delta and Titan launch vehicle system combinations with the goal of 25% to 50% life cycle cost savings. The first operational launches for an MLV and an HLV are planned for FY02 and FY08 respectively.
(U) The smallest launch vehicle class is represented by DoD's Rocket System Launch Program (RSLP), which provides for the safe storage, disposal or conversion of deactivated Minuteman II ICBM boosters for science and technology research. Other small launch vehicles used by DoD for this purpose include the commercial Pegasus and Taurus rocket systems. The STP launches and tests new technologies prior to their incorporation into our nation's operational space systems. Consolidated STP funding eliminates the need for the Services and Agencies to create redundant launch capabilities. Economies of scale are achieved through a single STP organization, which also minimizes duplication of experiments/testing through the filtration of the STP Space Experiment Review Board.
(U) The DoD Space Shuttle Operations program consists of long-range planning that develops and maintains analysis tools used to support the space launch requirements' National Mission Model, including the coordination efforts for both normal and contingency Space Shuttle operations. It also supports monitoring of DoD's space technology export controls.
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Atlas | Atlas |
| Delta II | Delta II |
| EELV (HLV) | Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Heavy Lift Vehicle (HLV) |
| EELV (MLV) | Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Medium Lift Vehicle (MLV) |
| EELV Follow-On | EELV Follow-On |
| Military Space Plane | Military Space Plane |
| Pegasus | Pegasus |
| Rocket System Launch Program | Rocket System Launch Program |
| Shuttle Operations | Shuttle Operations |
| Taurus | Taurus |
| Titan II | Titan II |
| Titan IVA | Titan IVA |
| Titan IVB | Titan IVB |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| Spacelift | Spacelift |
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
| SPACE FORCES SUPPORT | SPACE FORCES SUPPORT |
(U) 21 November 1997
(U) Road Map Production Date: 18 June 2001