Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo

Space Advanced Technology Development/Demo under the Air Force's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation budget activity, focuses on four major areas. Firstly, it includes integrated space technology demonstrations aimed at addressing mission needs by applying emerging technologies from the Air Force Research Laboratory and other U.S. government laboratories. Secondly, the program concentrates on ground-based optical space situational awareness technology development and demonstration at the Maui Space Surveillance System in Hawaii. Thirdly, it develops and demonstrates advanced and innovative low-cost high-performance satellite propulsion technologies and components. Lastly, the program focuses on developing technologies for next-generation space communications terminals and equipment. The efforts in this program are coordinated through the Department of Defense Science and Technology Executive Committee process to harmonize efforts and eliminate duplication.

The specific objectives of Program PE 1206616SF include initiating and developing programs addressing Department of the Air Force (DAF) capability gaps, providing technologies for transformational future force capabilities, and selecting transformational efforts through a competitive process. The program aims to identify transformational technologies that address enterprise-level priorities and enable autonomy in space to ensure that space services are available to the joint warfighter. Additionally, it plans to continue experimentation to demonstrate logistics and situational awareness in orbits beyond Geosynchronous Earth Orbit and initiate projects selected from the annual WARTECH process that investigate Department of the Air Force prioritized topics. The program also aims to provide modeling, simulation, and analysis for technology evolution in space-based terrestrial surveillance systems, precision navigation and timing, space domain awareness, satellite communications, space environment monitoring, and space control payloads. Lastly, it seeks to develop agile software development platforms and pipelines that support pain point identification and rapid software application prototyping in collaboration with commercial partners to support USSF operators.