Technology advanced requirements for effective military spaceplanes

Highly reliable, robust, reusable military spaceplanes (MSPs) have unique technology requirements above and beyond those being developed and validated on reusable launch vehicles (RLVs) through the X-34, X-33, and other planned ground and flight test programs. These requirements focus on operability for quick response and rapid turnarounds, which are essential so that our space forces can respond at any time and to any place to a variety of missions. This paper describes these technology thrusts coupled with the state-of-theart status and resolution of existing shortfalls.