FY  1981  RDT&E  DESCRIPTIVE  SUMMARY 
Program  Element:   J35158F 
OoD  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Communications,  #133 
RESOURCES  (PROJECT  LISTING):   ($  In  thousands ) 
Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  #3 
Project 
Number   Title 
Total 
FY  1979  FY  1980   FY  1981   FY  1982   Additional      Estimated 
Actual   Estimate  Estimate  Estimate  to  Completion   Costs 
N/A 
TOTAL  FOR  PROGRAM  ELEMENT 
23,130   36,300 
45,300    27,900    Continuing    Not  Applicable 
BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  ELEMENT  ,^D  MISSION  NEED:   The  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  is  a  multi-payload,  communications 
satellite  which  provides  reliable  and  secure  communications  ,  '  Operating  in  conjunction  jtf 
with  the  synchronous  equatorial  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  satellites,  the  SDS  completes  the  coverage 
required  by  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM)  system  for  essential  command  and  control  communications 
to  our  nuclear  capable  forces.   The  SDS  also  provides  a  high  speed  link  between  Air  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility 
(AFSCF)  remote  tracking  stations  for  command  and  control,  j£. 
y 
BASIS  FOR  FY  1981  RDT&E  REQUEST:   This  request  includes  funds  for  continuing  the  multi-year  design  and  development 
efforts  to  improve  the  anti-jam  capabilities  of  the  AFSATCOM  payload.  Also  included  is  the  multi-year  development 
necessary  to  produce  a  Space  Shuttle  optimized  satellite.   Sustaining  engineering  support  is  also  required  on  a 
continuing  basis. 
OTHER  APPROPRIATION  FUNDS: 
FY  1979  FY  1980   FY  1981   FY  1982   Additional 
Actual   Estimate  Estimate  Estimate  to  Completion 
Total 
Estimated 
Costs 
Missile  Procurement  (3020) 
Quantities 
Satellites 
37,900  100,223    93,823    40,023 
1        1 
Continuing    Not  Applicable 
587
Program  Element:   (735158F  Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (SPf?) 
DoD  Mission  Area  J   Strategic  Communications,  #133  Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  93 
DETAILED  BACKGROUND  AND  DESCRIPTION:   The  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  provides  critical,*  "     & 
real-time  command,  control,  and  communications  for  Strategic  Air  Command  Single  Integrates  Operational  Plan  (SIOP) 
and  other  nuclear  capable  forces.  The  SDS  is  an  integral  part  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM) 
system  which  also  includes  the  Ultra  High  Frequency  (UHF)  communications  capability  on  the  geosynchronous  equatorial 
Fleet  Satellite  Communications  (FLTSATCOM)  satellites,  piggy-back  transponders  on  selected  host  satellites,  and 
airborne/ground  radio  terminals.   As  such,  the  SDS  complements  the  FLTSATCOM  satellite  coverage  by  providing  UHF     . 
polar  coverage  which  the  FLTSATCOM  satellites  cannot  provide.  /? 
Additionally,  SDS  supports  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility  (AFSCF)  requirment  for  reliable, 
two-way  high  data  rate,  S-band  communications  between  AFSCF  remote  tracking  stations. 
J  The  direct  benefits  of  SDS  will  be  reliable  and  secure  direct  communications       2* 
which  will  result  in  greatly  improved  command  and  control  of  our  nuclear  capable  forces, 
elimination  of  the  dependence  on  some  of  the  vulnerable  AFSCF  communications  . 
RELATED  ACTIVITIES:   The  space  segment  of  the  FLTSATCOM  will  be  developed,  procured,  and  launched  under  the  Navy's 
FLTSATCOM  Program  Element  (PE),  33109N.   The  Air  Force  aircraft  and  ground  UHF  radio  terminals  required  for  operation 
with  the  FLTSATCOM  and  SDS  satellites  are  funded_wlthln  the  AFSATCOM  Program  Element,  33601F.   The  AFSCF  stations  are  y 
funded  under  the  AFSCF  Program  Element,  35110F.  J  Space  Shuttle    yr 
flights  for  SDS.  are  provided  by  the  Space 
Launch  Support  Program,  PE  35171F. 
WORK  PERFORMED  BY:   Air  Force  Systems  Command's  Space  Division,  Los  Angeles,  CA,  is  responsible  for  the  SDS.   The 
prime  contractor  Is  Hughes  Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  CA.   Ceneral  Systems  Engineering  and  Integration  is 
performed  by  the  Aerospace  Corporation,  El  Segundo,  CA. 
588
Program  Element:   035158F  Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (  •'") 
Oof)  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Communl  cat  Ions,  #1 33  Budget  Activity:   Strategic  l',..;rnmr;7  #3 
PROGRAM  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  AND  FUTURE  PROGRAMS: 
1.  FY  1979  and  Prior  Accomplishments:   The  technology  phase  of  the  program  was  completed  In  FY  1971.   This  was 
followed  by  a  contract  definition  phase  in  FY  1972  which  established  the  system  configuration.   The  system  acqui- 
sition contractor  was  selected  by  competitive  source  selection  and  a  system  development  contract  was  av^rded    In 
June  1972.   The  system  Critical  Design  Review  (CDR)  was  successfully  completed  In  March  1974  with  all  critical 
specifications  being  met  or  exceeded.   The  structural  model  satellite  testing  was  finished  in  May  1975.   A  quali- 
fication model  satellite  was  built  and  tested  to  fully  qualify  the  satellite  prior  to  production.  . 
_  __  All  pavloadjs  were     /^/ 
fully  checked  out  on-orbit.   F ijj  1  operational  capability  was  declared  for  all  payloads  (after      Cc 
successful  on-orbit  checkout. 
y 
Primary  activities  in  FY  1979  Included  the  Initiation  of  design  and  development-^ 
activities  associated  with  Improving  the  anti-jam  capabilities  of  the  AFSATCOM  payload  on  the  sixth  (F-6)  and 
subsequent  satellites,  the  continuation  of  the  multi-year  development  of  a  Space  Shuttle  optimized  design  on  the 
sixth  (F-6)  and  subsequent  satellites,  reliability  improvement  efforts,  and  sustaining  engineering  support. 
2.  FY  1980  Program:   Efforts  for  this  year  include  sustaining  engineering  support,  continuing  design  and  develop- 
ment activities  to  improve  the  anti-jam  capabilities  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  System  (AFSATCOM) 
payload  on  the  sixth  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  satellite  (F-6),  and  continuing  the  multi-year  development 
necessary  to  transition  to  the  Space  Shuttle.   Also  included  are  continuing  efforts  to  improve  satellite  payload 
reliabilities. 
3.  FY  1981  Planned  Program:   The  increase  from  FY  1980  to  FY  1981  Is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  Space  Shuttle  optimi- 
zation and  AFSATCOM  anti-jam  improvement  activity  will  peak  in  the  form  of  final  design  review,  development  tests, 
qualification  tests,  and  design  validation.   Sustaining  engineering  support  and  payload  reliability  improvements 
will  continue. 
U.      FY  1982  Planned  Program:   The  FY  1982  plan  Is  to  continue  sustaining  engineering  support,  continue  dovejopment    , 
of  the  anti-jam  improvements  for  the  AFSATCOM  payload,  and  continue  the  development  efforts  related  to  Space  Shuttle 
optimization. 
589
Program  Element:   #35156F 
DoD  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Communications,  #133 
Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  #3 
/ 
5.   Program  to  Completion:   Thin  1b  a  continuing  program.   As  an  Integral  part  of  the  AFSATCOM  (Air  Force  Satellite 
Communications)  System, the  program  will  continue  to  provide  critical  . communications  coverage 
and  be  totally  compatible  with  the  AFSATCOM  aircraft  and  ground  radio  terminals.   Sustaining  engineering  support 
will  be  required  to  maintain  design  compatibility  and  to  incorporate  Improvements  for  survivability  and  reliability. 
Replenishment  satellites  will  be  procured  to  provide  a  reasonable  probability  of  having  a  satellite  available  to 
launch  In  the  event  of  an  on-orbit  failure. 
6.  Milestones: 
System  Preliminary  Design  Review 
System  Critical  Design  Review 
Launch  First  Satellite  (F-l) 
Launch  Second  Satellite  (F-2) 
Full  Operational  Capability 
Date 
Mar  73 
Mar  74 
/ 
X 
AFSATCOM  System  IOC 
May  79 1 
7.  Resources:  Not  Applicable 
8.  Comparison  with  FY  1980  Budget  Data: 
  * —      -  ■  —  -  —   —  -  --  ■  —*    ii 
FY  1980  Resource  Listing  ($  In  thousands): 
RDT&E  Total  for  Program  Element 
Missile  Procurement 
FY  1978  FY  1979   FY  1980   FY  1981  Additional 
Actual   Estimate  Estimate  Estimate  to  Completion 
12,800   23,500    36,300    25,500  Continuing 
83,200   37,900   100,300   107,500  Continuing 
590 
Total 
Estimated 
Costs 
Not  Applicable 
Not  Applicable
Program  Element:   I35158F  Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
DoD  Mission  Area:  Strategic  Communications,  #133  Budget  Activity:  Strategic  Programs,  #3 
The  Fiscal  Year  198!  ROT&E  increase  of  $39.8  million  is  to  Implement  the  shuttle  optimized  satellite  design.   This 
will  allow  for  shuttle  ride  sharing  and  attendant  launch  cost  benefits,  as  well  as  providing  some  payload  growth 
capability.   The  FiecalJTear  1981  Missile  Procurement  decrease  is  duel  rf
Budget  Activity:    #3  .  strategic  Programs 
Program  Element:    35158F  -  Satellite  Data  System 
Test  and  Evaluation  Data 
h      Development  Test  and  Evaluation:   The  development  contractor  for  the  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  was 
^ughes  Aircraft^  Company,  El  Segundo,  California.   The  first  satellite  was  launched    ~ 
^     ,  Initial  Operational  Capability  was  established  in  ""  The  first  satellite  (v   1> 
was  funded  entirely  within  the  development  program.  /The  second  satellite  (F-2)  was  the  first  vehicle  funded 
under  the  production  program.   The  development  hardware  included  engineering  models  of  the  communication 
subsystems,  a  structural  model  spacecraft  (X-l)  and  a  full-up  qualification'model  spacecraft"-!    Develop- 
ment  tests  of  the  communications  subsystems  engineering  models  were  completed  in  November  1973.   Structural 
"  "f  W"  satisfactorily  completed  on  the  X-l  engineering  model  spacecraft  in  May  1975.   Sys  emslevel 
qualification  was  completed  in  October  1975  with  all  critical  performance  specifications  met  or  exceeded 
vK  T,  r*Ic"  oT  e 
s^ncT  T  **£*!?   **   'r1??  d69l8n  ^^   ^'performance  tS  specifics*  on 
via  a  oricsof  tests  including  shock,  acoustic,  modal  survey,  thermal,  electromagnetic  interference  (EMI) 
*olar-thermal  vacuum,  and  inteRrated  system  test.   The  F-l  spacecraft  was  acceptance  tested  dur^  the 
/    -   e     ui   u  *       j  J   .     .     _  The  Y-l  spacecraft  was  a  fully  configured  spacecraft  which  has  been 
'  refurbished  and  designated  as  flight  vehicle  (F-4). 
I'      ft?"**01"1  Jest  and  Evaluation:   A  portion  of  the  SDS  Satellite  system  is  part  of  the  Air  Force 
Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM)  space  segment.   Classical  separate  IOT&E  was  not  conducted  on  the  space 
ZHTTt   IrT   a"  open,tl0n!1  obJect*ve^^rements  vere  fully  integrated  into  the  DT&E  effort  and 
s^ooortin HfTatcou   """'k^  ^P"1"11^-  operational  characteristics  and  orbit  performance  of  payloads 
supporting  AFSATCOM  are  scheduled  to  be  demonstrated  during  the  FOT&E  of  AFSATCOM.   FOT&E  of  AFSATCOM  is  to 
paera?n!8abovey)      "*  9eh**"M   '°  ^  '"  "  8°*   RCSUlt9  t0  d*te  m   COn,"ained  *»  DT^reporL Tee 
Afrit  k 
*??\ 
3«   Systems  Characteristics: 
Characteristics 
Data  Rate  in  words 
per  minute 
Message  Bit  Error  Rate 
per  ten  thousand  bits 
Anti-Jam  Protection  (db) 
Objectives 
r 
Demonstrated 
/ 
fTTTT 
III!