Space Security Index

X-37A (NASA/DARPA). 77 A successor to the X-37A, the X-37B unmanned, reusable
spacecraft was launched for the rst time in April 2010 under signicant secrecy. India is
reportedly working on a Reusable Launch Vehicle, which is not anticipated before 2015. 78
e commercial space industry is contributing to responsive launch technology development
through advancements with small launch vehicles, such as the abovementioned Falcon-1
developed by SpaceX, and its successor, the Falcon-9, which had its maiden test ight in
June 2010.
Interest is increasing in the development of air-launched microsatellites, which could reduce
costs and allow rapid launches, as they do not require dedicated launch facilities. e Russian
MiG-launched kinetic energy anti-satellite weapon program was suspended in the early
1990s, but commercial applications of similar launch methods continue to be explored.
As early as 1997 the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau was carrying out research, using
a MiG-31 to launch small commercial satellites into LEO. 79 e Mikron rocket of the
Moscow Aviation Institute’s Astra Centre, introduced in 2002, was designed for launch from
a MiG-31 and is capable of placing payloads of up to 150 kg into LEO. 80 e U.S. has used
the Pegasus launcher, rst developed by Orbital Sciences Corporation in 1990, to launch
military small payloads up to 450 kg from a B-52 aircraft. 81 Other eorts include the China
Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation’s plan to launch small payloads released
from a modied H-6 bomber. 82
2010 Development
Progress in the research and development of low-cost launch capabilities
Seeking to cut costs, NASA has been placing more emphasis on commercial involvement for
several years. On 4 June 2010, SpaceX launched its rst Falcon 9 rocket with a mockup of
the Dragon capsule on board. Organized under NASA’s Commercial Orbital Transportation
Services (COTS) program, 83 the Falcon 9 aims to be a lower cost option and uses less
expensive components and systems than traditional rockets, including kerosene/liquidoxygen-burning
Merlin engines, nine of which lifted the spacecraft o the pad. 84
On 8 December 2010, the Dragon capsule was launched aboard another Falcon 9. e
capsule performed maneuvers in orbit to demonstrate capabilities for co-orbit and docking as
per its intended mission of re-supply to the International Space Station. After two orbits, the
Dragon became the rst privately-owned spacecraft to perform reentry and splashdown. 85
While the Falcon 9 achieved major cost savings in its rst launches, industry analysts remain
cautious about the prospect of maintaining this edge over the long term. 86
Another low cost alternative receiving increased attention is the use of nanosatellites for
military purposes. e U.S. Army launched two nanosatellites, their rst satellite launch in
50 years, aboard the Falcon 9 that carried the Dragon capsule. 87 ese miniaturized satellites,
part of the Operational Nanosatellite Eect or SMDC-One, completed a 35-day orbit and
burned up on reentry. e mission provided a great deal of data that will be analyzed and
applied to future nanosatellite programs. 88 e U.S. Navy also participated with two of their
own satellites piggybacked onto the same launch. 89
Space Security Impact
Moving to cheaper launch capabilities through innovative propulsion, privatization, and
miniaturized satellites should allow space systems to become more adaptive in many ways.
New technology can be integrated more quickly, and in theory losses due to oensive action
Space Systems Resiliency
147