Re: USA-193: reboot problems

On Mar 7, 6:13 pm, simberg.interglo...@xxxxxxxxx (Rand Simberg) wrote:

We need to set up a new, and parallel agency, to do this stuff. It's too important to leave the current incumbents in sole charge of it.


I tend to agree, but am not sure how to do it. Ten, fifteen years
ago, I would have said to let non-NRO DoD, mostly meaning the USAF,
procure operational sats, let something like a DARPA-ized NRO develop
and demonstrate next-generation technologies.

But, alas, the USAF hasn't been distinguishing itself in a positive
way in procuring space systems for a while. So what to do?

At the moment, my notion is to have most of the operational stuff go
COTS, open for competition, selling to whatever service or agency
wants it, unclassified as far as the basic technologies and system
requirements are concerned. It might still be worthwhile having a
classified skunk works developing stuff for the future, though I'm not
really sure of that.

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