I 
FY  1973  ROT&E  DESCRIPTIVE  SUMMARY 
Date:     January  1972 
Program  Element  #     3515QF  Title    Satellite  Data  System  (formerly  Aerospace  Support  Program)   
Category    Activities  -  Other  Budget  Activity     4-Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
  
BACKGROUND;     The  Satellite  Data  System,  was  originally  planned  for/Kynchronous  equatoriaJorbit  using  a  multi- 
purpose  satellite  system.     Since  thePpynchronous  equatorial  orbitpcannct  provide  communications  coverage^over 
the  polar  regions  above  75  degrees  North  Latitude,   a  highly  elli'ptical  polar  orbit,   multi-purpose  satellite 
system,    was  selected  to  provide  Such  a   system 
reduces  the  need  for  expensive  overseas  ground  station  facilities  and  enhances  security  control. 
DESCRIPTION:     The  objective  of  the  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS),   is  the  development,  acquisition,   test  and 
launch  of  a  mul  ti-purpose  satellite  system.     The  system  will  be  designed  to  support  theJjjfltra  High  Frequency 
(UHF)   two-way  polar  communications  requirements  for  command  and  control  of  Strategic  Air  Command   (SAC) 
Single  Iptegra ted  Operational  Plan  (SlOP^   forces  which  will  complement  the  synchronous  equatorial  FLTSATCOM 
5?stem£j  The  SDS  will  also  support  the/JAir  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility  iAFSCR>frequirement  for  reliable 
F§-Bancrcommunicatipns  from  its  remote  tracking  station  at  Thule,  JareenlarxJ'to  CONUS  ground  stations  ~ 
The  benefits  derived  from  SDS  will  be,  the  reduction  inlhe  requirement  for  maintaining  overseas"* 
facilities,  enhancement  of  data  security  andj£wo-way  real-time  command  and  control  of  the  SIOP  forces  over 
the  polar  regionsj'  S1* 
RELATED  ACTIVITIES:     FLTSATCOM,   P.E.   33109N>     The  Space  segment  of  the  FLTSATCOM  will  be  developed,   procured 
and  launched  under  this  program  element. ^^Since  FLTSATCOM  is  designed  to  operate  at  UHF  and  will  be  in 
synchronous  equatorial  orbit,   it  will  complete  the  portion  of  UHF  global  communications  coverage  not  provided 
by  the  Satellite  Data  System  polar  orbitjf  MILSATCOM,   P.E.   33601F:     The  Air  Force^fw  airbornjpand  ground 
terminals  required  for  operation  with  the  FLTSATCOM  satellites  will  be  procured  within  this  program  element. 
WORK  PERFORMED  BY:     AFSC  (Headquarters  Space  and  Missile  Systems  Organization  (SAMSO),   Los  Angeles, 
California)  is  responsible  for  the  Satellite  Data  System.     The  primary  contractors,   Hughes  Aircraft 
Company,   El  Segundo,  Calif,  and  TRW  Systems  Group,   Redondo  Beach,   Calif. ,   have  both  submitted  proposals 
for  evaluation.     Contract  award  is  presently  planned  forfWch  1972JJK 
/ 
/ 
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Budget  Activity:      /«-MiJ  i  lary  Antromulics  nnd  Rclntcd  Equipment 
Program  Element   (Pudg^t  .Subnet?, vlty):      351$^F  Gntollite  Data  System  (formerly  Aerospace  Support 
Program)      (Cont'd) 
PROGRAM  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  AMD  FUTURE  PLANS: 
1.  FY  71  and  Prior  Accomplishments.     The  technology  development  phase  was  completed  during  FY  71  with 
finalization  of  technical    reports  and  packaging  techniques  extending  into  FY  72.  S 
Test   results  confirmed   the   technical   feasibility  of  th^ 
design  with   specifications  being  met  or  exceeded,    which  minimized  the  overall  program  technical  rink. 
This  data  was  used  during  the  contract  definition  phase* 
2.  FY  72  Program.     Technical   reports  and  packaging  techniques  were  completed.     The  satellite  multi- 
purpose configuration  was  established  and  the  contract  definition  phase  completed.     Evaluation  of 
contractor  system  acquisition  proposals  started   in  Nov   1971  with  contractor  selection  planned  for 
Ij§arch  1972rpFY  72  RDT&E  funding  was  originally  established  at  $5»0M;    however,    this  was  increased  to 
/$17.&4  to  permit   the  contractor  to  immediately  proceed  yjto  the  detailed   satellite  systems  design  and 
engineering  leading  to  a  full  operational  capability        _  _ 
3*     FY  73  Planned  Program, 
and   engineering  to   support  a 
The  FY  73   effort  will  continue  the  detailed   systems  and   spacecraft  design 
i  communications  aprf' satellite  systems  Preliminary  Design  Review  (PDR),   a 
/ 
ana  engineering  uo  yur'pui  u.  a  <juiniuuiu.ucivjLUJia  aun  aoucuioc  ojfjocnu  in-i-imimiji  ^^igu  '^"j-^"  \»^h. 
communications  Critical  Design  Review  (CDR) preliminary/  component  fabrication,  and  the  start  of 
initial  assembly  and  testing  of  the  engineering  modelg 
/j,     program  to  Completion.     The  overall  schedule  is  planned  to  support  the  system  full  operational  X 
capability  by/  ' 
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Budget  Activity:      /^-Military  Astronautics  and  Related   Equipment 
rro^rnm  F.lomont   (Hudftot  Subnet. i  vity):      3 01  5^-F  S.ilcL lite  Data  System  (formerly  Aerospace  Support 
Program)      (Cont'd) 
event 
Spacecraft  and  Systems  CDR 
First  Article  Config.   Insp. 
Launch  First  Spacecraft 
Launch  Second  Spacecraft 
Full  Operational  Capability 
RESOURCES:      ($  in  Millions) 
RDT&E 
Procurement: 
Fund3 
Quantities 
Mil /Civ  Man-Yrs  in  Spt 
of  R&D  (SPO  and  Si'D  Spt) 
MILESTONES 
DATE    ^. 
/]     Jul    197/4  4 
ESTIMATED  ACCUMULATIVE  RDT&E 
COST  TO  REACH  MILESTONES 
%™  x 
FY  71  &   Prior    FY  72    FY  73    To  Complete    Total  Est  Cost 
13.9 
17.8 
23.0 
274