How US Air Force Space Command Optimizes Long-Term Investment in Space Systems

Gerald G. Brown (), Robert F. Dell (), Heath Holtz () and Alexandra M. Newman ()
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Gerald G. Brown: Operations Research Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 93943
Robert F. Dell: Operations Research Department, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California 93943
Heath Holtz: Air Force Material Command Directorate of Requirements, Office of Aerospace Studies, Kirtland AFB, New Mexico 87117-5776
Alexandra M. Newman: Division of Economics and Business, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado 80401

Interfaces, 2003, vol. 33, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: United States Air Force Space Command spends billions of dollars each year acquiring and developing launch vehicles and space systems. The space systems in orbit must continually meet defensive and offensive requirements and remain interoperable over time. Space Command can launch additional space systems only if it has a launch vehicle of sufficient capability. Space planners using space and missile optimization analysis (SAMOA) consider a 24-year time horizon when determining which space assets and launch vehicles to fund and procure. A key tool within SAMOA is an integer linear program called the space command optimizer of utility toolkit (SCOUT) that Space Command uses for long-range planning. SCOUT gives planners insight into the annual funding profiles needed to meet Space Command's acquisition goals. The 1999 portfolio of 74 systems will cost about $310 billion and includes systems that can lift satellites into orbit; yield information on space, surface, and subsurface events, activities, and threats; and destroy terrestrial, airborne, and space targets.

Keywords: Planning:; government.; Programming:; integer. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2003
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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