Department of Defense Space Test Program

Eleni Myers Sims; Jeffery S. Zdenek

doi:10.1117/12.406658

7 November 2000 Department of Defense Space Test Program

Eleni Myers Sims, Jeffery S. Zdenek

Proceedings Volume 4136, Small Payloads in Space; (2000) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.406658
Event: International Symposium on Optical Science and Technology, 2000, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

During the 1960's, as the importance of the space environment was recognized, it became apparent that space systems technologies needed to be developed at a rapid rate. The Department of Defense (DoD) realized that before developing and deploying space systems for operational use, the needed to be tested in space. At that time no organization of funds were readily available to provide timely spaceflight for military space systems. As a result, the DoD Space Test Program (STP) was created in 1966 by a memorandum from the Director of Defense Research and Engineering (DDR&E). The purpose of this program was to provide flight opportunities for all DoD research and development activities in an economic and efficient manner. For a payload to be flown by STP it must first be sponsored by a DoD organization. The payload is then briefed through a series of service review boards until it reaches the DoD level. The DoD Space Experiment Review Board (SERB) makes the final selections and gives STP a ranked list of payloads to attempt to fly. This process happens annually, and STP flies as many payloads as funding and opportunity allow.

Citation Download Citation

Eleni Myers Sims and Jeffery S. Zdenek "Department of Defense Space Test Program", Proc. SPIE 4136, Small Payloads in Space, (7 November 2000); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.406658

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