This was the fourth such meeting among the organizations, and focused on cooperative benefits from the X-37, payload adapters for the Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, and lessons learned from the recent Leonids meteoroid storm.

The members reviewed the potential for applying X-37 reusable orbital technology to their respective missions. The X-37 will demonstrate the ability to conduct payload support operations on orbit and autonomously return to earth for reuse. The X-37 provides technical legacy directly applicable to the second stage of a reusable two-stage launch system.

Due to the potential military applications of such a capability, the Air Force is contributing approximately 10 percent of the program cost and will appoint a deputy program manager to assist in leading the program from NASA Marshall Space Flight Center.

The council members also threw their full support behind the development of a domestic capability to launch satellites in the 100-kilogram class as secondary payloads on U.S. launch vehicles.

The Air Force's Space Test Program is currently developing a flight prototype secondary payload adapter for the EELV program.

This capability will provide researchers, industry, and the military the potential ability to put payloads on orbit for about $500,000 per launch, an order of magnitude less than other domestic launch options today.

While the council agreed that these costs are only a rough estimate, they pointed out that at even twice the price, it is extremely reasonable.

Using their cooperative efforts on the Leonids meteoroid storm as a model, the partners reviewed the preparations to jointly collect and disseminate information on the upcoming period of increased solar activity known as Solar Maximum.

They were also encouraged by the collaboration on the detection and cataloging of Near Earth Objects. NASA is using Air Force optical surveillance assets to meet their Congressionally mandated goal of finding 90 percent of the large Earth-crossing asteroids within 10 years.

The purpose of the Partnership Council is to find ways to save money, reduce risk and integrate planning efforts in areas of mutual interest. The council members are Daniel Goldin, NASA Administrator, Keith Hall, Director of the NRO, and Gen. Richard B. Myers, Commander of AFSPC.

Goldin, Hall, and Myers continue to be enthusiastic about the progress of the Partnership Council and the ability of the three organizations to integrate activities in areas such as infrastructure, technology, and operations. "This partnership is really bearing fruit. Not only is it the right thing to do for each or our organizations, but it's the right thing to do for the nation," Myers said.

MilSpace - SpaceDaily Special Report

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Satellite Launch To Boost DTH In India
Calcutta, India (SPX) Dec 28, 2005
The successful launch Thursday of India's heaviest satellite from spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana may have boosted the country's space research efforts to yet another level, but it has also lifted the spirits of at least three Direct-To-Home televisions broadcasters, one of which has been waiting for years to launch its services in India.