CHIRP´s potential to introduce a new USAF space acquisition paradigm

The objectives of this paper are: (1) to explore lessons learned from the United States Air Force´s (USAF) Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP); and (2) how those lessons can be applied to acquire operational space assets quickly and less expensively in the future. CHIRP is a payload configured with a SES-WorldSkies comsat. The goals of the CHIRP program are to perform a technological demonstration (tech demo), to advance the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) of staring Wide Field of View (WFOV) IR sensors, and associated data processing. The primary challenges relate to integrating up-front systems engineering with a particular payload and satellite on a commercial provider´s launch schedule and field of view. Particularly, we highlight how these observations will affect the analysis of trade-offs when choosing between free-flying and commercially-hosted, staring IR missile warning payloads in the future. With the launch of CHIRP, quarter-earth WFOV staring data is being processed with recently developed algorithms by the Air Force, and we will address for the first time the efficacy of this demonstration given known engineering regrets. Because the CHIRP demonstration was a result of an unsolicited proposal by a commercial communications vendor, the Air Force was restricted in its vetting of traditional requirements. The parameters of this constraint will be delineated in this paper and weighed against the enormous cost benefit of an accelerated schedule of advancing missile-warning staring technology in a relevant space environment. This paper will discuss both the technical challenges of working with a commercial communications satellite vendor and their subcontractors to achieve the maximum possible systems engineering and rigor necessary for this demonstration. Motivations of the contractor and the USAF were not always in sync and in fact often were conflicted. Our conclusion is that complications in schedule and performance from commercially hosting- full-earth field-of-view payloads are offset by the much lower costs compared to developing a free-flying spacecraft. CHIRP shows that hosted payloads are a cost effective means to advance TRLs with emerging technology.