1. National Aerospace Initiative
Mr. Paul F. Piscopo
Special Assistant to the Director, Defense Research & Engineering
for the National Aerospace Initiative

2. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE
-- What is NAI? --
NAI is a synergistic effort among DoD, NASA, and the Intelligence Community that will help DoD achieve its goal of transforming the military through rapid advancement in aerospace capabilities by:
– effectively merging air and space
– spurring innovation in critical high technology areas
– reinvigorating the U.S. aerospace industry
Through ground and flight demonstrations, NAI will: 
– Achieve sustained hypersonic flight to Mach 12 by 2012 and beyond
– Achieve affordable and responsive space launch
– Accelerate advanced capabilities for on-orbit space systems
– Provide numerous potential “off-ramps” to nearer term applications
– Excite the high-technology science and engineering workforce for the future
 NAI will enable capabilities never-before available to the warfighter: – Long-range supersonic cruise missiles
– Hypersonic strike/interceptor missiles
– A family of long-range hypersonic strike/reconnaissance aircraft
– Air-breathing space access

3. Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry
Top-Level National Recommendations
Transform the U.S. air transportation system to efficiently, safely, and securely accommodate an evolving variety and growing number of civil and military aerospace vehicles.
Reform U.S./multilateral regulations and policies to enable the movement of products and capital across international borders on a fully competitive basis, and establish a level playing field for U.S. industry in the global market place.
Implement a new business model, driven by increased and sustained government investment and the adoption of innovative government/industry policies, designed to promote a healthy and growing U.S. aerospace industry and stimulate the flow of capital.
Establish a national aerospace policy and promote aerospace by creating a government-wide management structure, including a White House policy coordinating council, an aerospace management office in OMB, and a joint committee in the Congress.
Immediately reverse the decline in, and promote the growth of, a scientifically and technologically trained U.S. aerospace workforce.
Boldly pioneer new frontiers in aerospace technology, commerce, and exploration.
“The breakdown of America’s intellectual and industrial capacity is a threat to national security and our capability to continue as a world leader.”

4. Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry
NAI-Relevant Findings, Conclusions, and Recommendations
The Federal Government should significantly increase its investment in basic aerospace research. The aerospace industry should take a leading role in applying research to product development.
An aggressive and sustained investment is needed in (the hypersonic flight) arena, with the objective of overcoming the critical technical barriers of high-speed flight and providing the demonstrations necessary to validate the operational feasibility of hypersonic systems.
The Commission supports the joint DoD and NASA National Aerospace Initiative objective of achieving Mach 12 capability by This initiative should begin as soon as possible.
The NAI will develop/demonstrate a portfolio of critical technologies that will enable the achievement of many common DoD and NASA goals.
The nation would benefit from a joint effort by NASA and DoD to significantly reduce the cost and time required to access space.
The Administration and Congress should direct NASA and the DoD to coordinate R&D efforts in areas of common need and provide the appropriate funding for joint programs.
The DoD, NASA, and Industry must partner in innovative aerospace technologies, especially in the areas of propulsion and power.
“If the aerospace industry cannot attract and retain the best and the brightest, then the industry doesn’t have a future.”

5. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE -- A Transformational Technology --
Transformation Attributes
Knowledge
Agility
Speed
Lethality
DDR&E Transformation Technology Initiatives
National Aerospace Initiative
Surveillance and Knowledge Systems
Energy and Power Technologies

6. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE
-- The Value of Speed --
Space Access
Reconnaissance
Anti-access
Theater of Operation
Boost/Ascent
NPR
Long Range Strike
Time Critical Target
Cruise
Cruise
Missile Defense
SEAD

7. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE -- An International Perspective --
U.S. Government / Industry Aerospace Knowledge Base is Eroding
Foreign Experience / Expertise Growing
– Excellent Ground Test Facilities
– Long-Term Commitment for Aerospace Investment
– Examples of Hypersonic R&D
China – (TAD 2015) Hypersonic Aircraft Dev Mach 5 France – 1999 Scramjet Ground Demo Mach 6 – 7.5 Germany – 2002 Air Defense Flight Demo Mach India – 2002 Cruise Missile Flight Demo Mach Russia – 1991 Scramjet Flight Demo Mach 6
Australia – 2002 Scramjet Flight Demo Mach 7.6
Potential Threat to Current U.S. Systems by End of Decade
– Strategic/Tactical Standoff Capability Threatened
– Aircraft Survivability Threatened
NAI is Needed to Sustain American Aerospace Leadership

8. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE
-- Technology Challenges Being Addressed --
High Speed Air Breathing Propulsion
High Speed Aerodynamics
Computational Fluid Dynamics
Structural Dynamics
Guidance, Navigation, and Control of High Speed Systems
High Temperature Materials
Thermal Protection Systems
Breakthrough Energy Sources (Energetic Materials/Propellants)
Health Monitoring and Vehicle Management Systems
Satellite Communications and Control (Swarm Behavior)
Passive Detection and Identification

9. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE
-- Technology Framework --
Strategic Focus
Technical Coordination
Aerospace Workforce
NAI
High Speed
Hypersonics
Space Access
Space
Technology
DoD/NASA
TCT/NPR
Space
Commission
Reusable Launch Vehicle
Expendable
(Missiles)
Reusable
[Mach ]
Responsive
Payloads
2nd Stage Rocket Engine
Mach<4
Flexible
Comm
Air-Breathing
1st Stage (TSTO)
[Mach ]
Space
Maneuvering
Vehicle
4<Mach<15
Long-Range
Strike
[Mach 0-7]
ISR
Synergy Goal: > 3
Space Control

10. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE NAI Goal: Mach Number per Year to 2012
-- High Speed / Hypersonics History --
NAI Goal: Mach Number per Year to 2012 25
Hydrogen Scramjet
Mach 8-15
Production 15
X-Vehicles
Hydrocarbon Scramjet
Mach 4-7
Space Access
NAI
Ramjet
Mach 3-4 10
Mach Number
Strike Aircraft
X-15
High Speed Turbine
Mach 2-4 5
SR-71
XB-70
Although our nation demonstrated higher speed flight capability in the late 50’s and early 60’s, we have pursued a subsonic, lower speed development path in most of our systems. There are probably many reasons for this, among them stealth capabilities in the 1980’s.
However, as foreign economic competition and foreign pursuit of high speed technologies increase, years from now may require our forces to have higher speed capabilities to be survivable and defendable.
The NAI hypersonics goals are to demonstrate a Mach number /Year capability through This strategy would result in a major demonstration about every 2 years. High speed turbines and ram/scramjet missile demonstrations would be pursued first, followed by a Mach 7 reusable air platform demonstration. Finally, higher Mach number demonstrations of interceptor technologies would be completed.
Missiles
Concorde
F-4
F-16
F-117
B-2
F-22
F-15
1960
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010
2020
NAI
Hypersonic Component Technology Development and
Ground Demonstrations
Hypersonic System Technology Development and Flight Demonstrations

11. TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT APPROACH -- High Speed / Hypersonics --
“Short Life”
Expendable
“Long Life”
Re-Usable
Flight Regimes
Mach 0-7
Mach 0-12
Mach<4
Mach 4-15 3
Building Block Technologies
High-Speed Turbine
Thermal Protection
Hydrogen Fuel
Hydrocarbon Scramjet
Aerodynamics
Building Block Technologies
High-Speed Turbine
Thermal Protection
Turbine-based Combined Cycle
Aerodynamics
Demonstrations
High Speed Turbine
/Ramjet 2 5 4
Rocket Boost Scramjet “missile” shape 7 9
Rocket Boost
Scramjet
Waverider or Lifting Body
Hydrocarbon fueled
Turbine-based Combine Cycle w/ Waverider
Hydrogen-fueled
Turbine-based Combine Cycle w/Lifting Body
Supersonic Cruise Missile
Mid Range Weapon
Strike
Interceptor
Long Range Weapon
Strike
Interceptor
Responsive Space Access
Capabilities
Long Range Strike

12. -- High Speed / Hypersonics --
DARPA RASCAL PROGRAM
-- High Speed / Hypersonics --
Aircraft follows a ballistic path back to the atmosphere
Restart engine &
return to airfield
Once out of the atmosphere, the rocket separates from the aircraft first stage
Re-entry of spent
expendable 2nd stage
2nd stage rocket burn
3rd stage rocket burn
Top stage burn provides orbit insertion and trim
Supersonic zoom maneuver
Ballistic coast out of the atmosphere after the zoom maneuver
50 KFT
100 KFT
200 KFT
Zoom
Coast

13. NAI HIGH SPEED / HYPERSONICS
-- Engine Combinations / Capability Off-Ramps --
Combined Cycle Engines (Accelerator)
- Hydrogen Powered Scramjets
Combined Cycle Engines (Cruise)
- Hydrocarbon / Hydrogen
Powered Scramjets
Access to Space
Responsive/Flexible
Mach 8-12
Hydrocarbon
Ram / Scramjets
Rapid Strike / Recce Aircraft
Rapid Global Response
Mach 5-10
Turbine
Engines
Vision:
Provide Revolutionary Hypersonic Capabilities in the Areas of Fast Strike/Intercept Weapons; Global Strike Aircraft; and Safe, Responsive, Affordable Access to Space.
The ultimate goal is a two-stage to orbit, access to space capability with a first stage air-breathing concept to allow for responsive and flexible access to space. Along the way, materials, airframe and propulsion technologies can be demonstrated on expendable flight demonstrators that produce off-ramp supersonic and hypersonic missile capabilities. In the mid-term, hypersonic missile propulsion concepts such as scramjets can be combined with either rocket or turbine-based combined cycle concepts to allow for a long-range strike/recce hypersonic platform capability.
Hypersonic Interceptor
Long-Range/100,000 ft Cruise
Mach 10+
Fast Response Standoff Weapon
Rapid Response
Time-Critical Targets
Mach 5-8
Aircraft & Missiles
Today
Mach 0-3
Near-Term
Mid-Term
Far-Term
2002
2008
2016
2025

14. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE
-- Technology Framework --
Strategic Focus
Technical Coordination
Aerospace Workforce
NAI
High Speed
Hypersonics
Space Access
Space
Technology
DoD/NASA
TCT/NPR
Space
Commission
Reusable Launch Vehicle
Expendable
(Missiles)
Reusable
[Mach ]
Responsive
Payloads
2nd Stage Rocket Engine
Mach<4
Flexible
Comm
Air-Breathing
1st Stage (TSTO)
[Mach ]
Space
Maneuvering
Vehicle
4<Mach<15
Long-Range
Strike
[Mach 0-7]
ISR
Synergy Goal: > 3
Space Control

15. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE Common System Attributes
-- Space Access --
Responsive Space Access
Rapid Global Reach
Common System Attributes
Rocket or Airbreather
“Aircraft-Like” Ops
Reliable & Maintainable
Supportable & Operable
Responsive
Alert Capable
Rapid Turn Time
Autonomous Operations
Minimal ground crew
Low cost
Minimal facilities
CONUS launch / recover
Low operations cost
2025
TOMORROW
TODAY
2015

16. -- Goals and System Payoffs/Requirements --
NAI SPACE ACCESS GOALS
-- Goals and System Payoffs/Requirements --
Phase III
Sustained 12 Hr Turn
1,000 Sortie Airframe
500 Sortie Propulsion & Systems
Marginal Sortie Cost $1M
Reliable (1/5,000 Sorties)
Most Weather (Cat 3)
Reduced Weight (DMF) – 15%
24% Payload Fraction (3X)
Phase II
Sustained 1 Day Turn
500 Sortie Airframe
250 Sortie Propulsion & Systems
Marginal Sortie Cost $5M
Reliable (1/2,000 Sorties)
Weather Tolerant (Cat 2)
Reduced Weight (DMF) – 10%
16% Payload Fraction (2X)
Phase I
Sustained 7 Day Turn
250 Sortie Airframe
100 Sortie Propulsion & Systems
Marginal Sortie Cost $10M
Reliable (1/1,000 loss rate)
Weather Sensitive (Cat 1)
Low Weight (DMF) – SOA
8% Payload Fraction
Previous Air Force studies and requirements documents were used to identify Phase I, II and III RLV system goals, e.g., “Space Operations Vehicle Operability Study,” others…???.
BASELINE
Shuttle,
DC-X, X-33, SLI
Near Term
Mid Term
Far Term
2000
2008
2025
2016

17. NAI SPACE ACCESS -- Technology & Development Roadmap --02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
SLI
Cargo Only
Commercial
Space
Shuttle
NASA
IOC
IOC
Crew
New 2nd Stage
National
Aerospace
Initiative
Continuing S&T Advancement
Propulsion
HC Boost
H2 Boost
Flight Subsystems
$6B+ Past Tech Investment
MIS/CAV
Payloads
SMV
The Access To Space roadmap highlights that appropriate technology demonstrations will be accomplished on the ground. These demonstrations will be increasingly complex over time, and will be flight tested on the experimental X-42 vehicle(s). It’s important to note that most or all of the vehicle technologies can be tested on subscale X-Vehicles with the key exception of propulsion. Propulsion is a long lead area that requires substantial investment and time. Because of the complexity, the propulsion demonstrations are scaled to directly support the technology needs of future operational Military Spaceplanes, not the subscale X-42. Nonetheless, the airframe, systems and operations technologies demonstrated by the X-42, combined with the larger propulsion demonstrations in NAI, are sufficient to support the Military Spaceplane system goals in phase I and II. These technology needs will support a follow on system acquisition program by AFSPC.
Airframe
Follow On X-Vehicles
X-42
Flight Test
DOD
Operations
Y-Vehicle
Flight Test
IOC
FOC
System Acquisition
MNS
AOA
ORD
IOC
120 Day Study
FOC

18. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE
-- Technology Framework --
Strategic Focus
Technical Coordination
Aerospace Workforce
NAI
High Speed
Hypersonics
Space Access
Space
Technology
DoD/NASA
TCT/NPR
Space
Commission
Reusable Launch Vehicle
Expendable
(Missiles)
Reusable
[Mach ]
Responsive
Payloads
2nd Stage Rocket Engine
Mach<4
Flexible
Comm
Air-Breathing
1st Stage (TSTO)
[Mach ]
Space
Maneuvering
Vehicle
4<Mach<15
Long-Range
Strike
[Mach 0-7]
ISR
Synergy Goal: > 3
Space Control

19. NAI SPACE TECHNOLOGY GOALS -- Responsive Payload Emphasis --
Ground-to-Air Laser Comm
Direct Theater Downlink and Uplink
Programmable TT&C
Air-to-Air Laser Comm
Air-to-Space Laser Comm
Space-to-Space Laser Comm
Space-to-Ground High Datarate RF
Programmable Multi-Band Sat Comm
High bandwidth end-to-end
Transformational Comm Arch
Airborne ISR
National Assets
Fused Collections
Large Inflatable Antenna (30m)
Bistatic Engagement
Joint Hyperspectral Capability
Real-Time ISR Fusion
Large Inflatable Antenna (100m)
Realtime Engagement
Future ISR Architecture
Autonomous and Proximity Ops
Predictive Space Situational Awareness
Rapid On-Orbit Checkout
Rapid Payload Processing
High Altitude Airship
Realtime Space Control Ops
Space Protection Testbad
Electric Laser in Space
Rapid Reconstitution of Space Capabilities
High ISP Microsat
Prompt Global Strike
Space Control Architecture
Near Term
Mid Term
Far Term
2000
2008
2025
2016

20. Transformation: Persistent, Global ISR
NAI SPACE TECHNOLOGY GOALS -- Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance --
MEO HSI
LEO SBR
MEO SBR
Transformation: Persistent, Global ISR
for the Warfighter
Far-Term (FY11 – FY20)
Space ISR Constellation
Real Time Engagement
Multi-INT Experiments
Mid-Term (FY07 – FY10)
Space ISR Experiments
Real Time Fusion
Space-Air Bistatic
Engagement
Near Term (FY03 – FY06)
Airborne ISR
National Assets
Fused Collections

21. U.S. and Worldwide Research Base Since WWII
100 90
Estimated
Total 80
Projected 70
E.U. and Japan 60
Billions of 87 $ 50 40
U.S. Commercial 30 20
U.S. Gov. – DoD 10
DoD
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
Year
Source: Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on the Technology Capabilities of Non-DoD Providers; June 2000; Data provided by the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development & National Science Foundation

22. NATIONAL AEROSPACE INITIATIVE -- Conclusion --
Advancing U.S. Aerospace Capabilities is Critical for National Security, Civil, and Commercial Sectors
Space Architecture Options Would Increase if Access to Space was Responsive, Flexible, and Affordable
Leap-Ahead Technologies are Developed for High Speed Strike, Space Access, and Space Missions
Emphasis on Rapidly Advancing Technology, Flight Tests, and Technology Demonstrations
Stair Step Approach Provides “Off-Ramps” for Fielding Systems
NAI is an Integrated, National Approach to Sustain American Leadership in Aerospace