An additional step that can be taken to assure access to space is to develop a responsive space-lift capability. The abil - ity to prepare and launch a satellite within days could quickly replenish combat losses. This approach would be most costeffective for small, cheap satellites but would also be effective for larger satellites, particularly if an enemy had only a limited number of ASAT weapons. Spares that are stored on the ground until needed would offer more than just the ability to replenish combat losses quickly. Since they would be accessi - ble while in storage, ground spares could be upgraded so that they incorporate the latest technology when they are eventu - ally launched. The Defense Support Program made use of this concept in the 1980s, when unneeded spare satellites were upgraded to become more capable replacements. Designing spare satellites to allow for upgrades would capitalize on their availability during storage, an attribute that makes such a strategy even more attractive than attempting to actively de - fend obsolescing hardware in orbit.

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Spacy, William L. Does the United States Need Space-Based Weapons?. Maxwell AFB, AL: USAF Air University, September 1999. [ 11 quotes ] [ page 53 ]