FY 1981 RDT&E DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY Program Element: £35158F Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) DoD Mission Area: Strategic Communications, #133 Budget Activity: Strategic Programs, #3 RESOURCES (PROJECT LISTING): ($ in thousands) Total Profect FY 1979 FY 1980 FY 1981 FY 1982 Additional Estimated Number Title Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate to Completion Costs N/A TOTAL FOR PROGRAM ELEMENT 23,130 36,390 45,300 27,900 Continuing Not Applicable The Satellite Data System (SDS) is a multi-payload, communications ‘ Operating in conjunction BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ELEMENT .D MISSION NEED: satellite which provides reliable and secure communications, 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 Satelifite Control Facility (AFSCF) remote tracking stations for command and control, 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 # Space Shuttle optimized satellite. Sustaining engineering support 1s alse required on a continuing basis. OTHER APPROPRIATION FUNDS: nr Total FY 1979 FY 1980 FY 1981 FY 1982 Additional Estimated Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate to Completion Costs Misst{le Procurement (3020) 37,900 100,223 93,823 40,023 Continuing Not Applicable Quantities 1 1 Satellites Y
Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) Program Element: ¢3S158F DoD Mission Area: Strategic Communications, #133 Budget Activity: Strategic Prograns, #3 DETAILED BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION: The Satellite Data System (SDS) provides critical,‘ real-time command, control, and communications for Strategic Air Command Stngle Integrated Operational! Plan (SIOP) and other nuclear capable forces. The SDS is an integral part of the Air Force Satellite Communications (AFSATCOM) system which aiso includes the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) communications capability on the peosynchronous equatortal Fleet Satellite Communications (FLTSATCOM) satellites, plepgy-back transponders on selected host satellites, and atrborne/ground radfo terminals. As such, the SDS complements the FLTSATCOM satellite coverage by providing UHF Fa polar coverage which the FLTSATCOM satellites cannot provide. Additionally, SDS supports the Afr Force Satellite Control Facility (AFSCF) requirment for reliable, two-way high data rate, S-band communications between AFSCF remote tracking stations. } The direct benefits of SDS will be reliable and secure dfrect communications x ‘which will result in preatly improved command and control of sur nuclear capable forces, elimination of the dependence on some of the vulnerable AFSCF communications ° ra The space segment of the FLTSATCOM vill be developed, procured, and launched under the Navy's FLTSATCOM Program Element (PE), 33109N. The Air Force aircraft and ground UNF radio terminals required for operation with the FLTSATCOM and SDS satellites are funded_within the AFSATCOM Program Element, 33601F. The AFSCF stations are funded under the AFSCF Program Element, 35110F. J] Space Shuttle ; vA flights for SDS. are provided by the Space Launch Support Program, PE 35171F. . RELATED ACTIVITIES: 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, Fl Segundo, CA. General Systems Engineering and Integration is performed by the Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA. 088
Titte: Satellite Data System (°>7) Propram Flement: #35158F ') Budpet Activity: Stratepic Psierams, #3 NoD Mission Area: Strategic Communtcatlons, #133 PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND FUTURE PROGRAMS: 1. FY 1979 and Prior Accomplishments: followed by a contract definition phase in FY 1972 which established the syratem confipuration. sition contractor was selected hy competitive source selection and a system development contract was awarded {in June 1972. The system Critical Desipn Review (CDR) was successfully completed in March 1974 with all critical specifications being met or exceeded. The structural model sateilite testing was finished {n May 1975. A quali- fication model satellite was built and tested to fully qualify the satellite prior to production. All payloadg were lafeer The technology phase of the propram was completed in FY 1971. Thia war The system acqui- fully checked out on-orbit. Full operational capability was declared for all payloads successful on-orbit checkout. \ RA Primary activities in FY 1979 included the tnitfation of design and development activities assoctated with {mproving the anti-jam capabilities cf the AFSATCOM pavioad 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 impreve satellite payload reliabilities. 3. FY 1981 Planned Program: The increase from FY 1980 to FY 1981 {s 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. 4. FY 1982 Pianned Program: The FY 1982 plan ts to continue sustaining enpineering support, continue deve lopment ' of the anti-jam improvements for the AFSATCOM payload, and continue the development efforts related to Space Shuttle optimization. 289
Propram Element: #35158F Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) DoD Mission Area: Strategic Communications, #133 Budget Activity: Strategic Programs, #3 5. Program to Completion: This is a continuing program. As an tntegral part of the AFSATCOM (Air Force Satellite i Communtent Tone) System, the program will continue to provide critical .communtcationr coverape Sustaining engineering support and be totally compatible with the AFSATCOM afrcraft and ground radio terminals. will be required to maintain design compatibility and to tncorporate {improvements for survivability and relfahility. Replenishment satellites will be procured to provide a reasonable probabiilty of having a satellite available to launch in the event of an on-orbit fatlure. / 6. Milestones: Date System Preliminary Design Review Mar 73 System Critical Design Review Mar 74 Launch First Satellite (F-1) Launch Second Satellite (F-2) x Full Operational Capability . | _AFSATCOM System L0C May 79_ % aA 7. Resources: Not Applicable 8. Comparison with FY 1980 Budget Data: FY 1980 Resource Listing ($ in thousands): Total FY 1978 FY 1979 FY 1980 FY 1981 Additional Estimated Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate to Completion Costs RDT&E Total for Program Element 12,800 23,500 36, 300 25,500 Continuing Not Applicable 83,200 37,900 100,300 107,500 Continuing Not Applicable 590 Missile Procurement
Program Element: #35158F Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) DoD Misefon Area: Strategic Communications, #133 Budget Activity: Strategic Programs, #3 The Fiscal Year 1981 RDT&E increase of $19.8 million is to implement the shuttle optimized satellite desfgn. This will allow for shuttle ride sharing and attendant launch cost benefits, as well as providing some payload growth capability. The Fiecal Year 1981 Missile Procurement decrease is due v4 a
Budget Activity: #3 - Strategic Programs Program Element: 35158F - Satellite Data System Test and Evaluation Data + Development Test and Evaluation: The development contractor for the Satellite Data System (SDS) was Drage Aircraft Company, El Segundo, California. The first satellite was launched “ ™ Initial Operational Capability was established in ~ The first satellite (F-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-1) and a full-up qualification model spacecraft (Y-1). Develop- ment tests of the communications subsystems engineering models were completed in November 1972. Structural testing was satisfactorily completed on the X-1 engineering model spacecraft in May 1975. Systems level qualification was completed in October 1975 with all critical performance specifications met or exceeded. System level qualification was designed to demonstrate design integrity and performance to specification via a series of tests {ncluding shock, acoustic, modal survey, thermal, electromagnetic interference (EMI), Olar-thermal vacuum, and integrated system test. The F-1 spacecraft was acceptance tested during the of The Y-1 spacecraft was a fully configured spacecraft which has been r efurbished and designated as flight vehicle (F-4). 2. Operational Test and Evaluation: A portion of the SDS Satellite system is part of the Air Force Satellite Communicatfons (AFSATCOM) space segment. Classical separate IOT&E was not conducted on the space’ segments since all cperat ional objectives/requirements were fully integrated inte the BT&E effort and were not broken out separately. Compatibility, 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. - be managed by AFTEC and scheduled to begin in FY 80. Results to date are contained in DT&E reports (see para. | above). 3. Systems Characteristics: Characteristics Objectives Demonstrated rc Data Rate in words per minute | | fm Message Bit Error Rate per ten thousand bits Anti-Jam Protection (db)