Program  Element:  #  35158F 
Category:  Operational  Syatem3 
ft  1977  rdt&e  DESCRIPTIVE  SUMMARY 
Title:  Satellite  Data  System 
Budget  Activity:  HL  Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
RESOURCES  /  PROJECT  LISTING  /:    (  %  in  Thousands  ) 
Project 
H  umber 
Title 
TOTAL  FOR  PROGRAM  ELEMENT 
Not  applicable 
FY  1975 
Actual 
FY  1976 
Estimate 
38,097        30,079 
FY  19TQ 
Estimate 
3,962 
FY  1977 
Estimate 
FY  1978 
Estimate 
Additional  to 
Completion 
Total  Estimated 
Cost 
15,400  U,30Q 
Continuing        Not  applicable 
BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  ELEMENT:  The  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)   is  a  multipurpose,  polar  coverage  communications  satellite 
which  vill  provide  reliable  and  secure  communications  over  the  north  polar  regions.     Operating  in  conjunction  with  the 
synchronous  equatorial  orbiting  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  (FLTSATCOM)   satellites,    the  SDS  completes  the  global  coverage 
required  by  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM)   system  for  essential  command  and  control  communications  for 
strategic  forces. 
BASIS  FOR  FY  1977  RPT&E  REQUEST:  This  request  includes  funds  to  complete  the  initial  engineering  design  and  development  of 
the  satellite  system.     Funds  are  also  included  to  conduct  the  development  engineering  necessary  to  transition  follow-on 
spacecraft  to  the  Space  Shuttle  and  to  improve  the  anti-jam  capabilities  and  performance  of  the  Ultra  High  Frequency  (UHF) 
payload  which  supports  the  AFSATCOM  mission. 
BASIS  FOR  INCREASE  IN  1977  OVER  1976:  Not  applicable 
PERSONNEL  IMPACT:  RDT&E       Procurement      Total 
The  average  number  of  employees  supporting  this  program 
element  Is  as  follows: 
TERMINATION  COST; 
Estimated  government 
liability  financed  with: 
FY  1976/TQ  & 
Prior  Funds   FY  1977 
Total 
Federal  Civ.  Employees 
Contractor  Employees 
2H 
AB2 
696 
Total 
220 
497 
717 
435
Program  Element:  ff   35158F  Title:  Satellite  Data  System 
Category:  Operational  Systems  Budget  Activity:  #L  Military  Aatronautlca  and  Related  Equipment 
DETAILED  BACKGROUND  AND  DESCRIPTION:  The  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  is  designed  to  provide  critical  transpolar,  two-way, 
real-time  command,  control  and  communications  for  Strategic  Air  Command  Single  Integrated  Operational  Plan  (SIOP)  forces. 
Since  a  synchronous  equatorial  orbit  cannot  provide  communications  coverage  over  the  polar  regions  above  70  degrees  North 
Latitude,  ajhighly  inclined  ellipticalJorbit  was  selected  for  the  SDS  to  provide I 
The 
SDS  is  an  integral  part  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM)  system  which  includes  the  Air  Force  Ultra  High 
Frequency  (UHF)  communications  capability  on  the  synchronous  equatorial  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  (FLTSATCOM)  program, 
piggy-back  transponders  on  selected  host  satellites,  and  airborne/ground  radio  terminals.  As  such,  the  SDS  will  complement 
the  FLTSATCOM  program  by  providing  the  requisite  polar  UHF  capability.  Additionally,  the  SDS  will  support  the  Air  Force 
Satellite  Control  Facility  (AFSCF)  requirement  for  reliable  two-way  high  data  rate,  S-band  communications  between  the  AFSCF 
remote  tracking  station  at  Thule.  Greenland  and  the  CONUS.  _       _.  — 
t  ^  f  The  direct  benefits 
derived  from  the  SDS  capabilities  will  be  the  reliable  and  secure  direct  communications  linkage  over" the  polar  regions  to 
provide  greatly  improved  command  and  control  of  SIOP  forces,  eliminate  the  dependence  on  vulnerable  undersea  cables  to  the 
Thule  station^ 
RELATED  ACTIVITIES:  The  space  segment  of  the  FLTSATCOM  will  be  developed,  procured  and  launched  under  FLTSATCOM  Program 
Element,  PE  33109N.  The  Air  Force  aircraft  and  ground  UHF  radio  terminals  required  for  operation  with  the  FLTSATCOM  and  SDS 
satellites  will  be  procured  within  the  AFSATCOM  Program  Element,  PE  33601Ej.  The  AFSCF  stations  are  funded  under  the  AFSCF  . 
Program  Element,  35110F.  T* 
WORK  PERFORMED  BY:  Headquarters,  Air  Force  Systems  Command,  Space  ana  rauane  Systems  Organization  (SAMSO),  Los  Angeles, 
California,  is  responsible  for  the  SDS.  The  primary  contractor  is  Hughes  Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  California.  General' 
Systems  Engineering  and  Technical  Direction  (GSE/TD)  is  performed  by  The  Aerospace  Corporation,  El  Segundo,  California. 
PROGRAM  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  AND  FUTURE  PROGRAMS: 
1.  FY  1975  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  acquisition  contractor  was  selected  by  competitive  source  selection 
and  a  system  development  contract  was  awarded  in  June  1972.  The  system  Critical  Design  Review  (CDR)  was  successfully 
completed  in  March  of  1974  with  all  critical  specifications  being  met  or  exceeded.  The  structural  and  qualification  model 
spacecraft  and  the  initial  flight  vehicle  (F-l)  are  being  procured  incrementally  with  Research,  Development,  Test  and 
Evaluation  (RDT&E)  funds.  A  production  option  to  the  development  contract  was  exercised  beginning  in  FY  1974.  This  option 
provides  for  the  fabrication,  assembly,  and  test  of  the  first  production  model  spacecraft  (F-2)  and  a  backup  flight  vehicle 
(F-3).  The  development  and  production  schedules  are  phased  to  achieve  the  required  delivery,  launch  and  system  operational 
dates. 
436
Program  Element:  fl  35158F 
Category:  Operational  Sy  a  tenia 
Title!  Satellite  Dnia  System 
Budget  Activity:   tf/<.  Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
Communication a  subsystem  engineering  models  were  fabricated  and  tested  by  November  1973.  The  structural  model  spacecraft 
testing  was  completed  in  May  1975.     A  qualification  model  spacecraft  was  built  and   boated  to  fully  qvoliTy  all  r.yatf>mn  at 
greater  than  erpected  orbital  levels.  _  the  qualification  model  spacecraft 
vill  be  refurbished  for  use  as  a  replenishment  flight  vehicle  (F-4). 
2.     FY  1976  Program:  During  FY  1976,   system  level  qualification  was  completed  (October  1975) 
;  Launch  vehicle  integration  and  software  development  will  be 
completed  during  this  fiscal  year.     Study  and  preliminary  "design  to  transition  follow-on  spacecraft  to  launch  aboard  the 
Space  Shuttle  will  be  initiated. 
3.     FY  19TQ  Program:!" 
The  backup  flight  vehicle  (F-3)  will  be  delivered 
4.  FY  1977  Planned  Program:  Activities  planned  during  this  period  include  sustaining  engineering  support,   initiation  of 
study  and  preliminary  design  to  improve  follow-on  satellites  for  survivability,  reliability,   and  performance.     Design  work 
to  convert  follow-on  satellites  to  launch  on  the  Space  Shuttle  will  also  be  continued. 
5.  FY  1978  Planned  Program:  The  FY  1978  program  will  continue  sustaining  engineering  supported  fund  the  design  and 
development  activities  to  improve  follow-on  satellites  and  transition  to  the  Space  Shut  tie. yFprocureraent  of  the  fifth  flight 
vehicle  (?-5)  will  be  initiated  in  FY  197S.1{  'u 
6.  Program  to  Completion:  This  is  a  continuing  program.     As  an  integral  part  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications 
(AFSATCOM)  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}   to  incorporate  improvements  for  survivability,  reliability  and  capability  and  to  provide 
additional  replenishment  spacecraft. 
7.  Milestones: 
A.  System  Preliminary  Design  Review 
B.  System  Critical  Design  Review 
C.  First  Article  Configuration  Inspection 
D.  Launch  First  Spacecraft 
S.  Launch  Second  Spacecraft 
?,  Full  Operational  Capability 
Date 
Mar  73 
Mar  74 
Estimated  Cumulative  RDT&E 
Cost  to  Reach  Milestones        ' 
($  in  Thousands) 
49,600 
_96,600  _ 
A 
437
Program  Element:  ft  35158F 
Category:  Operational  Systems 
Title:  Satellite  Data  System 
Budget  Activity:  flL  Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
8.     RESOURCES:    (I  in  Thousands) 
FY  1975  FY  1976  '       FY  19TQ 
RDT&E:     Funds  38,097 
"Quantities 
Flight  Model  Spacecraft 
T-IIIB/Agena  Launch  Vehicles 
30,079 
3,962 
FY  1977 
FY  1978 
14,300 
Additional 
to 
Completion 
Continuing 
Total 
Estimated 
Cost 
15,400 
Not  applicable 
"These  quantities  are  procured  over  the  period  of  initial  contract. 
* 
42,900      9,600     13,400     59,400 
Missile  Procurement: 
Funds  (3020) 
Quantities 
Flight  Model  Spacecraft 
T-IIIB/Agena  Launch  Vehicles 
54,700 
Continuing    Not  applicable 
"The  Qualification  Spacecraft  will  be  refurbished  and  used  as  replenishment  flight  vehicle. 
4«
4»« 
438
f 
Budget  Activity:  f/U   -  Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
Program  Element:   35156F  -  Satellite  Data  System   
Test  and  Evaluation  Data 
1.  Development  Test  and  Evaluation:  The  development  contractor  for  the  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
is  Hughes  Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  California.  The  contractor  is  conducting  the  development  / 
program  in  support  of  satellite  launches                     ]to  establish  the  initial  orbital               i2 
deployment  and  achieve  an  Initial  Operational  Capability              ""1  The  first  satellite  to             '  s. 
be  launched  (F-l)  is  being  funded  entirely  within  the  development  program.  The  second  flight  space- 
craft (F-2)  is  the  first  vehicle  being  funded  under  the  production  program.  The  development 
hardware  includes  engineering  models  of  the  communication  subsystems,  a  structural  model  spacecraft 
(X-l)  and  a  full-up  qualification  model  spacecraft  (Y-l).  Development  tests  of  the  communications 
subsystems  engineering  models  were  completed  in  November  1973.  Structural  testing  was  satisfactorily 
completed  on  the  X-l  model  spacecraft  in  May  1975-  Systems  level  qualification  was  completed  in 
October  1975  with  all  critical  performance  specifications  being  met  or  exceeded.  System  level 
qualification  is  designed  to  demonstrate  design  integrity  and  performance  to  specification  via  a 
series  of  tests  including  shock,  acoustic,  model,  survey,  thermal,  electromagnetic  interference  (EMI), 
solar-thermal  vacuum,  and  integrated  system  test.  Reliability  (life)  tests  of  critical  components 
will  continue  throughout  the  development  program.  The  F-l  spacecraft  will  undergo  acceptance  test 
during  the"                            The  Y-l  spacecraft  is  a  full  configured  spacecraft  which 
will  be  refurbished,  as  required,  and  used "as  a  back-up  flight  vehicle  (F-U). 
2.  Operational  Test  and  Evaluation:  OT&E  is  accomplished  on  the  individual  systems  supported  by 
this  program  element,  such  as:  AFSATCOM,  PE  33601F  and  Satellite  Control  Facility,  PE  35110F. 
/ 
3.  Systems  Characteristics; 
IF  mission  characteristics 
-1*00  WlZA  ^f  ?    s 
-  5  KHz  channels,  75  BPS,  two-way  teletype^  >S 
439
Budget  Activity?  #6.  -  Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
Program  Element:  3515&F  -  Satellite  Data  System 
/ 
b.  AFSCF  Mission  Characteristics  <y 
^fl.76  -  2.3  GJte  (S-Band)d     ^S                                                                                                                                                            P 
Data  pass  ^{256  KBs,  32  KBsJ' 
c.  *  &t*°  ellipticaTJorbit,'{l2  hrjperiod,   transpolar  coverage. 
d.  Orbital  life  Mean  Mission  Duration  (MMD)  -*"  "^_  j/ 
Mission  characteristics  will  be  validated  during  DT&E.     Operational  characteristics  and 
orbit  performance  will  be  demonstrated  during  GT&E. 
::!         /• 
440