USAF use of the Space Shuttle

[Michel Van]

yes the DoD used Shuttle for several Mission like:
(STS-4, STS-51-C, STS-51-J, STS-27, STS-28, STS-33, STS-36, STS-38, STS-39)

but there was more
at Vandenberg Air Force Base, they build a Shuttle launch pad on Space Launch Complex 6
and the north runway and overruns were lengthened for Orbiter landing.
with first mission STS-62-A targeted for October 15, 1986, using Discovery
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-62-A
http://www.spacepatches.nl/sts_mis/STS62A.html
but on January 28, 1986 Challenger explode during launch and terminate the USAF shuttle program
but there some open question on this program:

were the 4 original orbiter enough, or need USAF more Shuttle for there Mission ?

had USAF used Mission control center at the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center ?
or had build there own Mission control center, perhaps Air Force Space Command in Peterson Air Force Base ?

USAF consider to use Shuttle to intercept enemy Satellite in Orbit, examine, them destroy or salvage it.
but is there any evidence they planed it for Real ?

 

[Byeman]

Don't forget STS-44& 53

For a mission control, the USAF was building the SOPC as part of CSOC at Schreiver AFS

It is easy to answer your questions.

 

[Byeman]

the attached chart shows equivalent STS flown each year by the USAF
Titan IV equates to 1 STS mission
Delta II -1/3
Atlas E - 1/3
Titan II - 1/3
Atlas Centaur - 1/2
EELV (A5 and D4) - 2/3 (arbitrary)
Delta IV Heavy - 1

 

[Michel Van]

THX for info

after the list NASA and USAF had run into problems in 1994-1996
because scheduling of NASA 7 and USAF 4 = 11 launches/year
Original plan was, the USAF Shuttle replace Titan III / IV series

this indicated if USAF STS program had go onward
they had to build one or two additional Shuttle

 

[Byeman]

Titan IV was developed after the shuttle. There were only 10 missions and it was to complement the shuttle. After Challenger, the buy was increased to 41 and the T-IV was to replace the shuttle.

My chart shows that no new orbiters were need for the USAF needs. A fleet of 4 with one at VAFB could have handled it.