Responsive Spacecraft Bus Implementation for HEO Missions Designed to Bridge Prototype and Operational Systems

This paper provides details of the implementation, integration, and test of an Operationally Responsive Space spacecraft bus to be used by the TacSat-4 CommX mission in a highly elliptical orbit (HEO). It will provide details of near-term results of the development, integration and test, and the implementation of standard interfaces to facilitate a bridge between prototype and operational systems. The paper details the means by which the technology and system engineering inform further use for future operational systems, including specifically the work of the Integrated System Engineering Team of industry, laboratory, and government participants. Details of the qualification of the spacecraft up through completion of integration and test will be provided, as will lessons observed that specifically translate into information for future operational satellite builds. This will include a discussion of the driving requirements for the bus to provide operations in the HEO orbital environment and the user applications that can take advantage of such a platform in a timely manner given candidate payloads. Aspects of complementary analyses of how similar operationally responsive space systems can military utility will also be presented.