Tailoring Systems Engineering Processes for Rapid Space Acquisitions

The Self-Awareness Space Situational Awareness (SASSA) program is a congressionally initiated technology demonstration program run by the Air Force, Space and Missile System Center (SMC), Los Angeles Air Force Base. Initiated October 2008, SASSA is investigating the feasibility of a highly flexible and adaptable satellite payload system for detecting satellite threats, both natural and manmade. The SASSA program was given cost and schedule limitations with a mandate to deliver hardware for demonstration in 24 months, considered a “rapid acquisition” by AF and SMC standards. This study provides an assessment of how the SASSA program tailored systems engineering processes to implement a “rapid space acquisition.” Acquisition and engineering standards define a roadmap for military procurements to produce the most effective product at the most reasonable cost. Refinement of these standards over time is critical to the continued success of acquisition systems to evolve a current and effective military. This study reviews the SASSA concept and technology demonstration, surveys standard systems engineering guidance, catalogues systems engineering processes tailored, and assesses effectiveness of this tailoring. This study will provide observation and assessment of real-world results, successful and unsuccessful, for the purposes of capturing and documenting lessons learned towards successfully accomplishing rapid space acquisitions.