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Schedule including this lecture.
Goddard Space Flight Center Engineering Colloquium
Date: Monday, February 24, 2003
DARPA is pursuing a number of different space technologies to address AmericaÃs defense needs. Orbital Express is a program to increase satellite usability by allowing on-orbit refueling and system upgrades. This program will reduce the traditionally high cost of satellites by extending their service life. RASCAL (Rapid Access, Small Cargo, Affordable Launch) will also address the prohibitively high cost of a space launch (approx. $10,000 per pound) by allowing a modified high performance aircraft to release a payload outside the atmosphere. This two-stage launch offers significant weight and cost savings because an aerodynamic fairing is unnecessary on the expendable second stage. Another space program, HyperSoar, will build an atmosphere skipping space plane that will allow hypersonic flight speeds while avoiding the heating effects of the atmosphere. This spacecraft will allow global access with a minimal response time from the continental U.S.
Dr. Arthur Morrish is the Director of DARPA's Tactical Technology Office (TTO), where he is responsible for leading the effort to expand DARPA's role in space operations, developing experiments to explore critical concepts related to the Future Combat System Program, and providing guidance and direction to program managers. Prior to assuming his current position, Dr. Morrish was a DARPA Program Manager, and has worked at the Office of Naval Research and Naval Research Laboratory. Dr. Morrish holds a Ph.D. in Analytic Chemistry from the University of Maryland and a BS in Physical Science from Michigan State University.
Colloquium Committee Sponsor: Dr. Eugene Waluschka
Engineering Colloquium home page: https://ecolloq.gsfc.nasa.gov