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DSCS III

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DSCS-3 Credit: USAF

AKA: Defense Satellite Communications System;DSCS. Status: Operational 1982. First Launch: 1982-10-30. Last Launch: 2003-08-29. Number: 15 . Gross mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Height: 2.10 m (6.80 ft). Span: 11.50 m (37.70 ft).

The contract was managed by the DCA (Defense Communications Agency) for the USAF.

The spacecraft was 3-axis stabilized (0.1 deg control in pitch, roll) using reaction wheels, earth and sun sensors. Two articulated solar arrays produced 1240 W (BOL), powered a 28V bus, and recharged NiCd batteries of 105 AHr capacity. S-Band (SGLS) and X-Band command and telemetry links were provided. The blowdown hydrazine propulsion system used 16 x 1-lbf thrusters. The satellite had both full Earth and narrow coverage communications capabilities. Receive antennas included two Earth coverage horns and one steerable 61-beam nulling lens. Transmit antennas comprised two Earth coverage horns, two steerable 19-beam wave guide lens, and one high gain parabolic gimbaled dish. The payload included six SHF channels as follows:

• Ch1: 50 MHz, 40 W
• Ch2: 75 MHz, 40 W
• Ch3: 85 MHz, 10 W
• Ch4: 85 MHz, 10 W
• Ch5: 60 MHz, 10 W
• Ch6: 50 MHz, 10 W

General Electric the received contract in February 1977 for DSCS III. The first launch was in 1982. Recurring cost was quoted as $160 million in Aviation Week on 7 August 1995.

Photo Gallery

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DSCS Credit: USAF

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DSCS II-01 Credit: Manufacturer Image

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DSCS III-01 Credit: Manufacturer Image

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• DSCS III contracts. - . Spacecraft: DSCS III. SAMSO awarded R&D contracts to General Electric Company, Space Division (FO4701-76-C-0092) and to Hughes Aircraft Company (FO4701-76-C-0093) for DSCS III..

• DSCS III preliminary designs review - . Spacecraft: DSCS III. DSCS III subsystem and system preliminary designs reviews were held throughout the month..

• DSCS III satellite transponder - . Spacecraft: DSCS III. HQ USAF approved full-scale development of a single channel transponder for the AFSATCOM program, to be deployed on DSCS III satellites. A contract for the development of the transponder was awarded..

• Contract for Phase II of the DSCS III program. - . Spacecraft: DSCS III. SAMSO awarded a contract for Phase II of the DSCS III program to the General Electric Company. GE was to build and test one qualification model satellite and two flight model satellites..

• DSCS III-01 - . Payload: DSCS III F-1. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 13637 . COSPAR: 1982-106B. Apogee: 36,171 km (22,475 mi). Perigee: 36,132 km (22,451 mi). Inclination: 8.80 deg. Period: 1,454.80 min. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 105 deg W in 1982-1983; 135 deg W in 1983-1989; 130 deg W in 1989-1999. As of 2006 Sep 9 located at 94.39E drifting at 5.469W degrees per day..

• USA 11 - . Payload: DSCS III F-2. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 16116 . COSPAR: 1985-092B. Apogee: 35,963 km (22,346 mi). Perigee: 35,434 km (22,017 mi). Inclination: 0.30 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min. Released from STS 51J 10/4/85. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit; at 12 deg W in 1986; 42 deg W in 1995..

• USA 12 - . Payload: DSCS III F-3. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 16117 . COSPAR: 1985-092C. Apogee: 35,963 km (22,346 mi). Perigee: 35,633 km (22,141 mi). Inclination: 0.30 deg. Period: 1,436.00 min.

  Released from STS 51J 4 October 1985; boosted into orbit with DSCS 3 F3 on single IUS booster. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit; at 180 deg E in 1994.

• USA 43 - . Payload: DSCS II F-16. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 20202 . COSPAR: 1989-069A. Apogee: 35,799 km (22,244 mi). Perigee: 35,777 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 6.10 deg. Period: 1,436.10 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit; at 57 deg E in 1995..

• USA 44 - . Payload: DSCS III F-4. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 20203 . COSPAR: 1989-069B. Apogee: 35,808 km (22,250 mi). Perigee: 35,771 km (22,227 mi). Inclination: 5.00 deg. Period: 1,436.30 min. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Positioned in geosynchronous orbit; at 60 deg E in 1995..

• USA 78 - . Payload: DSCS III B-14. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 21873 . COSPAR: 1992-006A. Apogee: 35,503 km (22,060 mi). Perigee: 30,675 km (19,060 mi). Inclination: 0.90 deg. Period: 1,300.50 min. Spacecraft engaged in research and exploration of the upper atmosphere or outer space (US Cat B). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with GCS trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit; at 135 deg W in 1995..

• USA 82 - . Payload: DSCS III B-12. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 22009 . COSPAR: 1992-037A. Apogee: 35,800 km (22,200 mi). Perigee: 35,775 km (22,229 mi). Inclination: 0.20 deg. Period: 1,436.20 min.

  Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with GCS trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 12 deg W in 1995-1996. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).

• USA 93 - . Payload: DSCS III B-9. Mass: 2,615 kg (5,765 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 22719 . COSPAR: 1993-046A. Apogee: 35,764 km (22,222 mi). Perigee: 183 km (113 mi). Inclination: 26.10 deg. Period: 625.80 min.

  Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C). Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with GCS trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 175 deg E in 1995-1997.

• USA 97 - . Payload: DSCS III B-10. Mass: 2,615 kg (5,765 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 22915 . COSPAR: 1993-074A. Apogee: 35,501 km (22,059 mi). Perigee: 195 km (121 mi). Inclination: 26.40 deg. Period: 625.40 min.

  Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with GCS trajectory option. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit at 52 deg W in 1995; 60 deg E in 1997. Spacecraft engaged in practical applications and uses of space technology such as weather or communication (US Cat C).

• USA 113 - . Payload: DSCS III B-7. Mass: 2,610 kg (5,750 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 23628 . COSPAR: 1995-038A. Apogee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Perigee: 35,787 km (22,236 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Positioned in geosynchronous orbit; located at 53 deg W in 1997..

• USA 135 - . Payload: DSCS III B-13. Mass: 2,613 kg (5,760 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Valley Forge. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 25019 . COSPAR: 1997-065A. Apogee: 35,800 km (22,200 mi). Perigee: 35,770 km (22,220 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Geosynchronous. Launch vehicle put payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit with GCS trajectory option..

• USA 148 - . Payload: DSCS III B-8. Mass: 1,232 kg (2,716 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Valley Forge. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 26052 . COSPAR: 2000-001A. Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg. Part of the US Air Force Defense Satellite Communications System. To be stationed in geosynchronous orbit over the Pacific Ocean..

• USA 153 - . Payload: DSCS III B-11. Mass: 1,235 kg (2,722 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Manufacturer: Valley Forge. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 26575 . COSPAR: 2000-065A. Apogee: 35,790 km (22,230 mi). Perigee: 35,780 km (22,230 mi). Inclination: 0.00 deg.

  Military Communications satellite. Launch delayed from October 12 by spacecraft problem. The US Air Force Defense Satellite Communications System satellite was placed by the Centaur upper stage into a 148 km x 898 km x 29.3 deg parking orbit. A second burn put it into a 218 km x 35,232 km x 26.0 deg transfer orbit. The DSCS III B-11 IABS-8 apogee stage, with two Primex R4D liquid apogee engines, circularised the orbit at geostationary altitude on October 21 and then separated from the DSCS.

• USA 167 - . Payload: DSCS III A-3. Mass: 1,235 kg (2,722 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Program: DSCS. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 27691 . COSPAR: 2003-008A. Apogee: 35,801 km (22,245 mi). Perigee: 35,773 km (22,228 mi). Inclination: 5.73 deg. Period: 1,436.12 min. First flight of a fully cryogenic orbital launch vehicle. Delayed from December 2001, February 2, 6, 8, 11, 12 and March 8 2003. Satellite mas 2,733 kg with kick stage..

• USA 170 - . Payload: DSCS-3-B6. Mass: 1,235 kg (2,722 lb). Nation: USA. Agency: USAF. Class: Communications. Type: Military communications satellite. Spacecraft: DSCS III. USAF Sat Cat: 27875 . COSPAR: 2003-040A. Apogee: 35,791 km (22,239 mi). Perigee: 35,781 km (22,233 mi). Inclination: 4.91 deg. Period: 1,436.07 min. Delayed from July 1, 11 and 23, then August 3 and 28..