
DRAFT - STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES
DISCOVERER II PROTOTYPE DEMONSTRATION
CONTRACT F04701-9X-C-00XX
ATTACHMENT 1
DISCOVERER II PHASE I – Trade studies, prototype design(s) and objective system design(s).
DRAFT SOLICITATION, OFFER AND AWARD
1998 Sep 02
F04701-98-R-0045
Discoverer II Joint Program Office
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
3701 N. Fairfax Drive
Arlington, VA 22203
Statement of Objectives
1.0 Introduction.
The objective of the Discoverer II program is to demonstrate affordable space based High Range Resolution
Ground Moving Target Indicator (HRR-GMTI) and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imaging capabilities with
direct tasking and downlink to the warfighter.
1.1 The system will put unprecedented capabilities in coverage and timeliness direct into the hands of the tactical
warfighter at a revolutionary cost. Attributes are:
- Affordable
- Near continuous surveillance of ground and maritime objects world wide
- Direct theater Tasking, Processing, Exploitation, and Dissemination (TPED)
- Global precision targeting in near real time
- Leverage existing ground infrastructure and migration path
- Minimal manning and footprint in theater and CONUS
- High resolution SAR & HRR-GMTI
- World wide precision DTED collection
- Resistant to ECM systems and techniques
- Employ commercial practices
1.2 Program Philosophy and Vision.
Establish an innovative, “out of the box” partnership between industry and the Government, meeting desired
capabilities through empowering, enabling and challenging industry.
2.0 Core Program Objectives
The objective of the Core program is to identify key cost and technical trades, develop an “Objective System”
design and demonstrate the feasibility of achieving the Objective System design. Illustrate growth paths for
enabling technologies and demonstrating user utility by launching and initializing up to two demonstrator satellites
and conduct testing and operational demonstrations during a one-year with the existing C4ISR infrastructure.
2.1 The selected System Integration (SI) contractor(s) will construct and manage a program with a seamless,
comprehensive engineering approach covering the satellite, radar, communications and the ground segment.
2.2 The priorities for the R&D prototype demonstration are, within the program constraints, highest to lowest:
performance, cost, weight.
2.3 Progress on design goals, technical performance parameters, and test results are key to continued support for
the program. Maintain Government visibility into the progress throughout the program through a series of
milestone evaluations and reviews. After the demonstration, analyze and report the total program results, linking
the Objective System design to the R&D prototype demonstration results to facilitate transition into E&MD.
3.0 Phase I Objectives
3.1 Conduct trade analysis of mission, CONOPS, and systems capabilities that progressively refine the Objective
Systems Concept, employing CAIV principles to determine the optimum system capabilities for the anticipated
missions with the best design. Fully explore the trade-space described by the thresholds and goals in the System
Capabilities Document.
3.2 Develop an “Objective System” design. Allocate system level performance requirements to the component
level. Identify enabling technologies and growth paths necessary to transition to a low cost, reduced risk EMD
program providing an Initial Launch Capability in 2008.
3.2.1 Maximize innovation by exploring multiple satellite design alternatives for varying risk designs including at
least two radar vendors. Review and refine the alternative designs at early Interim Evaluation Reviews (IERs).
3.2.2 Exploit low cost integration with the current ground infrastructure, in a CIG/SS compliant migration path,
backward compatible to other sensor systems, and considering life cycle cost.
3.2.3 Conduct simulations, modeling, and demonstrations as necessary to validate design and technology growth
paths, and reduce risk. Plan the R&D prototype test program.
3.3 Perform Life Cycle-Cost (LCC) analyses; develop sustainment and replenishment strategies.
3.4 Develop the preliminary design for an R&D prototype for launch in 2003/2004 to demonstrate and validate the
Objective System design. The R&D prototype must be traceable to the Objective System through technology
growth paths clearly illustrated and projected achievable for launch in 2008. Include sufficient capability to clearly
demonstrate utility to the warfighter and national user.
3.4.1 Provide a de-orbit capability for the satellite at the end of its useful life.
3.5 Develop a Concept of Operations (CONOP) to employ the Objective System for timely TPED information to
Theater Commanders for up to two Major Theaters of War with complementary information to national
intelligence customers.
3.6 Develop a risk management program to identify and mitigate technology, cost and schedule risks to enable a
moderate R&D prototype demonstration.
4.0 Phase II Objectives
4.1 Complete final design of the R&D prototype. Balance requirements to meet cost and schedule constraints
while demonstrating technical performance, affordability and operational utility for migration to the Objective
System.
4.2 Plan, execute, and report a test program including ground and space operations.
4.2.1 Demonstrate design maturity prior to launch through software demonstrations, subscale tests, simulations,
and full system end-to-end testing.
4.2.2 Plan and conduct on-orbit tests and experiments to validate system performance.
4.3 Integrate and test ground-processing software into the TES ground station considering the infrastructure
migration paths for the Common Imagery Processor (CIP) and the Common Data Link (CDL).
4.4 Participate in the Army’s program to integrate Discoverer II tasking and exploitation capabilities into the TES,
to maximize utility of the data to tactical users.
4.5 Construct the spacecraft, interface with a launch vehicle, and support the launch operations of up to two
spacecraft, one in FY03 and a second in FY04. Initialize the spacecraft systems in a stable orbit. Operate the
spacecraft tasking and TT&C for the remainder of Phase II.
4.6 Operational demonstrations illustrating user utility are the primary measure of success for the program.
Participate in planning and preparations for the demonstrations. Operate the spacecraft in response to tactical
user’s needs during the operational demonstrations.