Posted on 03/01/2010 7:51:09 PM PST by ErnstStavroBlofeld
The U.S. Air Force’s Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) B8 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin has surpassed its 10-year design life of on-orbit service in providing secure and reliable communications capabilities for the warfighter.
Launched from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 20, 2000, the B8 satellite is one of 14 DSCS III spacecraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems for the MILSATCOM Systems Wing at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.
The satellite is also the first of four DSCS III satellites to feature Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades that enabled a 200-percent increase in communication capacity over original DSCS III spacecraft with its 50-watt Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers.
“The high performance and longevity of the DSCS III constellation is direct testimony to a joint U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team dedicated to providing the warfighter with secure and reliable satellite communications,” said Kevin Bilger, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of Global Communications Systems.
“The DSCS III constellation has provided the Department of Defense with its core communications capability for over two decades and will continue to make a significant contribution to our national security well into the future.”
(Excerpt) Read more at defpro.com ...
I've worked (on the Army/payload-control side of the house) with the DSCS II, DSCS III, and now the WGS satellite programs.
Thanks for posting this.
Whatever became of MILSTAR?
BTW....SLEP stands for Service Life EXTENSION (not enhancement) Program. < /Cliff Claven mode >
Last satellite(Milstar 6)launched in 2003.
Thanks. I was just curious. I worked on that program way back when.
MILSTAR is still up and transmitting.
bump
I worked in SATCON with DSCS III.. thanks for posting.
No problem
Tks for posting. AN/WSC-6 tech here.
No Problem.
I worked on it also at the MILSTAR SPO, LAAFS 83-85
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