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DARPA's Next Project: Design A Space Development Agency
space.com ^ | December 15, 2018 08:12am ET | By Sandra Erwin, SpaceNews Staff Writer |

Posted on 12/17/2018 9:03:18 AM PST by BenLurkin

In a Dec. 6 memo titled, "Space Development Agency Study Team Direction and Tasking," Griffin directed Fred Kennedy, director of DARPA's Tactical Technology Office, to lead a study team and come up with recommendations for the "implementation of the Space Development Agency.

The study team will "inventory the DoD space-based command-and-control capabilities, identify critical gaps, deficiencies and inefficiencies in our existing architectures and develop an agile responsive threat-driven architecture, associated infrastructure requirements and an acquisition construct," Griffin wrote.

The decision to assign this task to Kennedy is not surprising given his space expertise and track record attracting commercial space companies to defense programs. Like Griffin, Kennedy has been a longtime critic of the DoD culture that favors exquisite satellites that take decades to develop and cost far more than products available in the open market.

DARPA has been a champion of nontraditional approaches to making space systems more resilient by using small satellites in large numbers. DARPA conceived the Blackjack program to develop an experimental constellation of small satellites in low earth orbit to offer persistent, global coverage for military operations. Griffin frequently has cited Blackjack as a model for how to harness commercial innovation for national security.

Shanahan said last month that he projected the Space Development Agency would be stood up in the first quarter of calendar year 2019. During a roundtable with reporters on Thursday at an event hosted by the National Defense Industrial Association, Shanahan cautioned that many of the details about the new agency have yet to be decided.

(Excerpt) Read more at space.com ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Business/Economy; Science
KEYWORDS: astronomy; darpa; elonmusk; falcon9; falconheavy; militaryspace; science; spaceforce; spacex; trumpdod

1 posted on 12/17/2018 9:03:18 AM PST by BenLurkin
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To: BenLurkin

The study team will “inventory the DoD space-based command-and-control capabilities, identify critical gaps, deficiencies and inefficiencies in our existing architectures and develop an agile responsive threat-driven architecture, associated infrastructure requirements and an acquisition construct,” Griffin wrote.

...

Sounds like an expensive and inefficient government project to me.


2 posted on 12/17/2018 9:11:44 AM PST by Moonman62 (Give a man a fish and he'll be a Democrat. Teach a man to fish and he'll be a responsible citizen.)
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To: SunkenCiv

*ping*


3 posted on 12/17/2018 9:12:59 AM PST by fieldmarshaldj ("It's Slappin' Time !")
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To: BenLurkin

Sounds like a needed direction.


4 posted on 12/17/2018 9:18:51 AM PST by PapaBear3625 ("Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." -- Voltaire)
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To: BenLurkin

So, the USAF Space Command, with all their successes, isn’t enough?


5 posted on 12/17/2018 9:21:58 AM PST by CodeToad ( Hating on Trump is hating on me and America!.)
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To: BenLurkin

More wasted money.


6 posted on 12/17/2018 9:26:37 AM PST by bmwcyle (Aliens from other planets are one of many elite lies.)
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To: CodeToad

It isn’t. That was a program based on the needs from 50 years ago and largely USAF based needs at that. The new program will develop a program for multiservice needs and will look ahead 50 years or more.


7 posted on 12/17/2018 9:28:46 AM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: bmwcyle

I would say it is finally money being spent wisely and unlike using a cruise missile to blow up a tent in the desert, it addresses security issues that affect all of us on a daily basis.


8 posted on 12/17/2018 9:31:33 AM PST by Kirkwood (Zombie Hunter)
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To: bmwcyle
More wasted money.

The biggest chumps in all of human history are American taxpayers.
9 posted on 12/17/2018 9:38:48 AM PST by SpaceBar
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To: BenLurkin
Whatever they do, they will need door gunners.


10 posted on 12/17/2018 9:45:00 AM PST by rjsimmon (The Tree of Liberty Thirsts)
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To: SpaceBar

They stood by while their treasury was robbed.


11 posted on 12/17/2018 10:05:42 AM PST by bmwcyle (Aliens from other planets are one of many elite lies.)
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To: Kirkwood

Think again, NASA it one of the biggest waste.


12 posted on 12/17/2018 10:06:30 AM PST by bmwcyle (Aliens from other planets are one of many elite lies.)
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To: Kirkwood

Think again, NASA it one of the biggest waste.


13 posted on 12/17/2018 10:06:36 AM PST by bmwcyle (Aliens from other planets are one of many elite lies.)
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To: bmwcyle

Congress over the years turned NASA into primarily a jobs program.


14 posted on 12/17/2018 10:09:05 AM PST by Reily
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To: Reily

https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/nasas-new-mission-and-the-cult-of-management-155873900/


15 posted on 12/17/2018 10:10:16 AM PST by Reily
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To: Kirkwood

The USAF program is multidepartmental program. It is also using the latest tech, so to say it’s 50 year old tech is just ignorance of their program.


16 posted on 12/17/2018 11:02:23 AM PST by CodeToad ( Hating on Trump is hating on me and America!.)
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To: fieldmarshaldj; AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Arthur Wildfire! March; Berosus; Bockscar; ...
Thanks fieldmarshaldj.

17 posted on 12/17/2018 11:38:33 AM PST by SunkenCiv (and btw -- https://www.gofundme.com/for-rotator-cuff-repair-surgery)
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To: bmwcyle

18 posted on 12/17/2018 11:44:54 AM PST by NorthMountain (... the right of the peopIe to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed)
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