The Ballistic Missile Defense Organization ("BMDO") carried out a well-planned Advanced Technology Demonstration ("ATD") program to demonstrate the availability and cost effectiveness of Single Stage Rocket Technology ("SSRT"). The SSRT program was structured to rapidly prototype and fly experimental vehicles of increasing size and performance to demonstrate the feasibility of single stage reusable rockets one step at a time, within budget, and in a short time.
The first SSRT ATD vehicle, the DC-X1, flew on schedule and within budget, and positive conclusive results were received from the DC-X1 by the end of fiscal year 1993. It continued to fly in FY '94, and will continue further flight testing during FY '95. At the conclusion of its FY '95 flight test program the DC-X1 vehicle will be delivered to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration ("NASA"). NASA plans to use the DC-X1 as a technology testbed, inserting new systems. Once this "technology makeover" has occurred, DC-X1 will be redesignated "DC-XA" and will embark on yet another flight test program to validate in actual operational environments the new technologies and systems it contains. The DC-X1 program has truly been a bargain for the Nation.
The highly visible success of the DC-X1 caused NASA to decide to initiate a program to design and build a follow-on ATD, the "X-33." The purpose of the X-33 will be to demonstrate reusable single stage to orbit flight. Successful flight testing of the DC-XA and the X-33 will provide the confidence necessary to proceed to development in the first part of the next century of a full-scale operational SSTO system. The X-33 effort at NASA is vitally important to DoD and to national security since it will provide warfighters with a demonstrated SSTO technology option for consideration as a next generation spacelift system. DoD, however, must also be involved in NASA's X-33 program. The "Moorman Report" (the "Space Launch Modernization Plan") made recommendations that DoD should have an equity participation in NASA reusable launch vehicle efforts. More important, the President's August 1994 "National Space Transportation Policy" (PDD/NSTC-4) specified (1) that SSTO was a national goal; (2) that NASA would be the lead agency to pursue that goal; and (3) DoD should have an equity participation in SSTO activity. The Committee agrees with these recommendations. The Committee also notes that "X-vehicle" programs have historically always had DoD participation.
Based on the positive results of the DoD's DC-X1 program and its flight tests, and because of the significant potential SSTO promises for reduced costs and increased reliability and operability, and because of the recommendations of a blue ribbon DoD panel on this subject and, not least of all, because of Administration policy, the Committee directs DoD and the Air Force to continue their financial, technical, and programmatic participation in the X-33 program in fiscal year 1996. The Committee wishes to reiterate that this effort should continue to be to develop an ATD X-vehicle, the X-33, which will begin flight testing in FY '99. This effort will be led by NASA, with the active cooperation of the Air Force in the areas of advanced technology development and demonstrations for SSTO systems; in operability, maintainability, and sustainability; and in flight test operations. The Committee strongly recommends that the innovative fast track program management approach used effectively by BMDO for its SSRT program be practiced.
The Committee directs that $50,000,000 be authorized in fiscal year 1995 to be made available only for single-stage-to-orbit research and development in PE 63401F at Phillips Laboratory, Albuquerque, New Mexico, for use for Air Force activities in direct support of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-led X-33 SSTO Advanced Technology Demonstrator X-vehicle program, pursuant to recommendations in the President's space launch policy (PDD/NSTC-4).
v. 1 Friday 31 March 1995