TheOperationally Responsive Space Office (ORS Office) was a joint initiative of theUnited States Department of Defense (DoD). The "stand up" of the office took place 21 May 2007 atKirtland Air Force Base.[1] The ORS Office focuses on providing quick-response tactical space-based capabilities; utilizing smallersatellites, such as theTactical Satellite Program and smallerlaunch vehicles. Organizations that have been involved in ORS activities include theUnited States Space Force,United States Army, theUnited States Navy,DARPA, theNational Reconnaissance Office, theMissile Defense Agency andNASA.[1]
In 2018, the ORS office was evolved to become theSpace Rapid Capabilities Office.
Col. Kevin McLaughlin, who was also the commander of theSpace Development and Test Wing located at Kirtland, became the first director of the ORS office in May 2007.[2] Peter Wegner became director of the ORS office in May 2008 and served until October 2012.[3] Col. John Anttonen took over as Director of the ORS Office in February 2013.[4] Col. Shahnaz Punjani assumed command of the ORS office on August 17, 2015.[5]
The Joint ORS Office worked with the other space agencys to provide "(an) assured space power focused on timely satisfaction of Joint Force Commanders' needs". The end state of the ORS concept is the ability to address emerging, persistent, or unanticipated needs.
The ORS Office implemented a process using a Modular Open Systems Architecture (MOSA) to facilitate rapid assembly, integration, and test (AI&T), deployment, and operations of space assets into the current space architecture in operationally relevant timelines. The ORS Office focuses on material[A] and non-material solutions.[B]
The Joint ORS Office addressed a new approach to risk and mission assurance to rapidly deploy capabilities to satisfy warfighter needs across operations. ORS supported the following missions during its operational history.
On May 29, 2008SpaceDev announced its Trailblazer spacecraft bus had been selected by the ORS Office as the primary payload to fly on its inaugural "Jumpstart" mission.[6] The Jumpstart payload was carried by the thirdFalcon 1 flight, which launched from Kwajalein in August 2008 but failed to reach orbit.
June 29, 2011 ORS-1 was launched from theMid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport on Wallops Island on aMinotaur I rocket.[7]
TacSat-3 is the first on-orbit Department of Defense intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capability delivered to U.S. Strategic Command for their direct imagery support to worldwide combatant commanders. TacSat-3 complements the wide array of Intelligence Community Combat Support Agencies and other space-based ISR systems that provide information to theUnited States armed forces.
TacSat-4 was launched on September 27, 2011. The Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Office and Air Force'sSpace and Missile Systems Center (SMC) provided the launch on aMinotaur IV from Kodiak, Alaska.[8]
Launch on November 4, 2015 GMT (November 3, Hawaii Standard Time) of aSPARK, also called Super Strypi, rocket occurred using a new rail-guided system; this was the first launch from Hawaii.[9] Spaceflight Now received a statement from theAir Force that "The ORS-4 mission on an experimental Super Strypi launch vehicle failed in mid-flight shortly after liftoff", which matched observations of viewers on the ground.[10] 13CubeSat spacecraft were on board; the primary payload was from theUniversity of Hawaii,[11] two were a part of a NASA'sLaunch Services ProgramELaNa mission, and eight were theEDSN constellation from NASA'sAmes Research Center.
On 26 August 2017 the Operationally Responsive Space-5 (ORS-5) satellite was launched from Space Launch Complex 46 atCape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. An Orbital ATK Minotaur IV rocket lifted SensorSat intolow Earth orbit. A secondOrion (rocket stage) was used to push SensorSat intoequatorial orbit. Its mission issituational awareness, to scan the geosynchronous belt for any new geosynchronous satellites, as well as forspace junk that may threaten existing geosynchronous satellites.[12]
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