Broadcast 557 (Special Edition)

Lt. Col. Carol Welsch, USAF, was the guest for this special program. Col. Welsch, as Acting Commander, Space Development Group, of the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center Space Development and Test Wing (formerly Detachment 12), Kirtland AFB, NM, spoke at length about the Air Force program and plans to fly as many smaller and secondary payloads as possible, using all types of launch vehicles, even those in Russia. We talked about the development of the ESPA ring which will allow for secondary Atlas V EELV payloads with the first launch of the new system scheduled for Dec. 12, 2006. Col. Welsch explained this program in detail, the DOD priorities, the need for sponsorship, eligibility, etc. She talked about using various launch sites and commented several times about having as many tools and options as necessary to further their mission. In response to a question about the program being political and its funding possibly be political, Col. Welsch described the stability of this particular program in no uncertain details. We also spoke about launch demand, launching at the Cape versus private spaceports, satellite defense, rapid response and a host of other topics. In response to another listener question, Col. Welsch described rapid response as used by the Air Force and we discussed the various ways rapid response can be and is interpreted. She also commented on the divisions within the Air Force and possible conflicts of interest between the flight section and Space Command. We learned that Col. Welsch and this program are aware and following what happens in the suborbital market and that they are interested in suborbital and sounding rocket flights as well as orbital flights. We also talked about this program needing to be better known throughout the space community better communication with the general population about the value this program brings to space development and the taxpayers. Visit the website www.smc.kirtland.af.mil. For follow up questions or comments for Lt. Col. Welsch, please send them to me at drspace@thespaceshow.com and I will immediate forward them to Col. Welsch.