Paper Session I-C - Overview of the USAF Space Structures Technology Program

As a pervasive technology, structures advancements will play a key role in enabling the lower cost, more responsive space systems for which US military planners and warfighters are currently defining requirements. This paper briefly summarizes on-going Air Force space structures technology programs from basic research to space flight demonstrations, briefly covering past successes and future directions/trends. On-going initiatives to change the future technology planning approach, emphasizing greater involvement from the private sector, will also be discussed