FY  1980  RDTSE  DESCRIPTIVE  SUMMARY 
Program  Element:   f 35158F 
DoD  Mission  Area:  Strategic  Command,  Control  and  Communications,  0331 
RESOURCES  (PROJECT  LISTING):   ($  in  thousands) 
Title:  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
Budget  Activity:  Strategic  Programs,  83 
Project 
Number   Title 
N/A      TOTAL  FOR  PROGRAM  ELEMENT 
FY  1978 
Actual 
12,800 
FY  1979 
Estimate 
23,500 
FY  1980 
Estimate 
36,300 
FY  1981 
Estimate 
25,500 
Additional 
to  Completion 
Continuing 
Total 
Estimated 
Costs 
Not  Applicable 
BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  ELEMENT  AND  MISSION  NEEDt  The  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  is  a  multi-pay load,  communications 
satellite  which  provides  reliable  and  secure  communications.  '  Operating  in  conjunction 
with  the  synchronous  equatorial  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  (FLTSATCOM)  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. 
BASIS  FOR  FY  1980  RDTSE  REQUEST:   This  request  includes  funds  for  continuing  the  multi-year  design  and  development 
efforts  to  improve  the  ant i- jam  capabilities  of  the  AFSATCOM  payload.   Also  included  are  the  multi-year  developments 
necessary  to  transition  follow-on  satellites  to  the  Space  Shuttle.   Sustaining  engineering  support  will  be  required 
on  a  continuing  basis. 
OTHER  APPROPRIATION  FUNDS: 
Missile  Procurement 
Quantities 
Satellites 
Launch  Vehicles 
FY  1978 
Actual 
83,200 
FY  1979 
Estimate 
37,900 
FY  1980 
Estimate 
FY  1981 
Estimate 
100,300       107,500 
Additional 
to  Completion 
Continuing 
1  (Agena) 
Total 
Estimated 
Costs 
Not  Applicable 
  l    /    /-- 
564
Program  Element:   935158F  Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
DoD  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Command,  Control  and  Communications ,  #331     Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  S3 
if!m. 
565 
/- 
S, 
DETAILED  BACKGROUND  AND  DESCRIPTION:   The  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  provides  critical, 
real-time  command,  control,  and  communications  for  Strategic  Air  Command  Single  Integrated  Operational  Plan  (SIOP)  and      ([$\ 
other  nuclear  capable  forces.   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)  satellites,  piggy-back  transponders  on  selected  host  satellites,  and  airborne/ 
ground  radio  terminals.   As  such,  the  SDS  will  complement  the  FLTSATCOM  satellite  coveraqe  by  providing  UHF  coverage 
which  the  FLTSATCOM  satellites  cannot  provide.  ^ 
. 
I  satellites  is  necessary  to  partially  compensate  for  the  reduced  coverage  and  communications  capacity         X 
which  will  result  from  fewer  FLTSATCOM  satellites  being  deployed  through  FY  1983.   Additionally,  SDS  will  support 
the  Air  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility  (AFSCF)  requirement  for  reliable,  two-way  high  data  rate,  S-band  communica-         . 
tions  between  AFSCF  remote  tracking  stations.  ij 
The  ' 
direct  benefits  of  SDS  will  be  reliable  and  secure  direct  communications  __  wnicn  will  j/ 
result  in  greatly  improved  command  and  control  of  our  nuclear  capable  forces,  elimination  of_ the  dependence  on 
some  of  the  vulnerable  AFSCF  communications 
i-?tn 
RELATED  ACTIVITIES:   The  space  segment  of  the  FLTSATCOM  will  be  developed,  procured,  and  launched  under  the  Navy' 3 
FLTSATCOM  Progrcim  Element,  33109N.   The  Air  Force  aircraft  and  ground  UHF  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,  351 10F.  
  Space  Shuttle  •      /5 
and  Inertial  Upper  Stage  flights  for  all  operational  Air  Force  satellites,  including  those  for  SDS,  are  provided  by 
the  Space  Launch  Support  Program,  PE  35171F. 
WORK  PERFORMED  BY:  Air  Force  Systems  Command' 3  Space  and  Missile  Systems  Organization,  Los  Angeles,  CA,  is 
responsible  for  the  SDS.  The  prime  contractor  is  Hughes  Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  CA.  General  Systems 
Engineering  and  Integration  is  performed  by  the  Aerospace  Corporation,  El  Segundo,  CA. 
:=l
Program  Element:   S35159F  Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
DoD  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Command,  Control  and  Communications,  <331     Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  ff3 
PROGRAM  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  AND  FUTURE  PROGRAMS: 
1.   FY  1978  and  Prior  Accomplishments:   The  technology  phase  of  the  program  was  completed  in  FY  1971.   This  was  fol- 
lowed 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  1974  with  all  critical  specifications 
being  met  or  exceeded.   The  structural  (X-l)  and  qualification  (Y-l)  model  spacecraft  and  the  initial  flight  vehicle 
(F-l)  were  procured  incrementally  with  Research,  Development,  Test  and  Evaluation  (RDT&E)  funds.   A  production 
option  to  the  development  contract  was  exercised  in  FY  1974  providing  for  the  fabrication,  assembly,  and  test  of 
the  first  production  spacecraft  (F-2)  and  (F-3) .   The  development  and  production  schedules  were  phased  to  achieve 
the  required  delivery,  launch,  and  system  operational  dates.   Communications  subsystem  engineering  models  were 
completed  and  tested  in  November  1973.-.  The  structural  model  satellite  testing  was  finished  in  May  1975.   A 
qualification  model  satellite  was  built  and  tested  to  fully  qualify  the  satellite  prior  to  production.  of 
All  payloads  werp  fully       J 
checked  out  on-orbit.   Full  operational  ca"pability  was  declared  for  all  payloads  'after  successful      f£+ 
on-orbit  checkout.   Primary  activities  in  FY  1978  included  sustaining  engineering  support,  design  and  development 
efforts  to  transition  follow-on  satellites  to  the  Space  Shuttle,  and  reliability  improvement  activities.  w" 
Refurbishment  of  the  Qualification  Model  Satellite  (Y-l)  was  begun.   When  fully  refurbished,  Y-l 
will  become  the  fourth  operational  satellite  (F-4).  ___ 
2.  FY  1979  Program?   Efforts  for  this  year  include  sustaining  engineering  support,  initiating  design  and  develop- 
ment activities  to  improve  the  anti-jam  capabilities  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  System  (AFSATCOM) 
payload  on  the  sixth  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  1980  Planned  Program:   The  increase  from  FY  1979  to  FY  19R0  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  Space  Shuttle 
transition  and  AFSATCOM  anti-jam  improvements  continue  full  scale  development  in  FY  1979.   Multi-year  development 
efforts  will  continue  to  permit  follow-on  satellites  (F-6  and  subsequent  satellites)  to  transition  from  the  current 
expendable  launch  vehicles  to  the  Space  Shuttle.   A  maior  multi-year  development  program  will  continue  to  enhance 
the  anti-jam  characteristics  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM)  System  payload.   Sustaining 
engineering  support  will  be  required  on  a  continuing  basis. 
4.  FY  1981  Planned  Program:   The  FY  1981  plan  is  to  continue  sustaining  engineering  support,  continue  development 
of  the  anti-jam  improvements  for  the  AFSATCOM  payload  and  continue  the  development  efforts  related  to  Space  Shuttle 
optimization. 
5SG
Program  Element:   I35158F  Title:   Satellite  Data  System  (SDS) 
DoD  Mtsston  Area:  Strategic  Command,  Control  and  Communications,  #331     Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  0  3 
5«   Program  to  Completion:   This  is  a  continuing  program.   As  an  integral  part  of  the  AFSATCOM  (Air  Force  Satellite       / 
Communications)   System,  the  program   will  continue   to  provide  critical  cotmuni  cat  ions   coveraae       / 
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. 
6.   Milestones:  Date 
Sy3te-.n  Preliminary  Design  Review  Mar  73 
System  Critical  Design  Review  Mar  74 
Final  Integrated  Systems  Test 
Launch  Fir3t  Satellite  (F-l) 
Launch  Second  Satellite  (F-2) 
Full  Operational  Capability 
■!7T* 
/ 
AFSATCOM  System  IOC  May  79 
7*   Resources :  Not  Applicable 
B.   Comparison  with  FY  1979  Budget  Data:   Not  Applicable 
HI;!. 
567
nuclRPt  Act Ivlty :   #4_j-  Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
Program  Element:   35158F  -  Satellite  Data  System 
Teat  and  Evaluation  Data 
A 
1.  Development  Te3t  and  Evaluation:   The  development  contractor  for  the  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  is  Hughes 
Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  California.   The  first  satellite  was  launched]  /~s 
**"""  Initial  Operational  Capability  was  established_  _  ~  The  first  satellite  (F-l)  was  f£ 
funded  entirely  within  the  development  program.   The  second  satellite  (F-2)  was  the  first  vehicle  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  engineering  model  spacecraft  in  May  1975.   Systems  level  qualification  was 
completed  in  October  197  5  with  all  critical  performance  specifications  met  or  exceeded.   System  level  qualifi- 
cation is  designed  to  demonstrate  design  integrity  and  performance  to  specification  via  a  series  of  tests 
including  shock,  acoustic,  modal  survey,  thermal,  electromagnetic  interference  (EMI),  solar-thermal  vacuum, 
and  integrated  system  test.   Reliability  (life)  tests  of  critical  components  will  continue  throughout  the__  V 
development  program.   The  F-l  spacecraft  was  acceptance  tested  during  the  , 
     r" 
The  Y-l  spacecraft  is  a  full  configured  spacecraft  which  will  be  refurbished  and  used  as  a  back-up  flight 
vehicle  (F-4). 
2.  Operational  Test  and  Evaluation:   A  portion  of  the  SDS  Satellite  system  is  to  be  part  of  the  Air  Force 
Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM)  space  segment.   Classical  separate  IOTSE  was  not  conducted  on  the  space 
segments  since  all  operational  objectives/requirements  were  fully  integrated  into  the  DTGE  effort  and  were  not 
broken  out  separately.   Compatibility,  operational  characteristics  and  orbit  performance  of  payloads  supporting 
AFSATCOM  are  scheduled  to  be  demonstrated  during  the  FOTSE  of  AFSATCOM.   FOTSE  of  AFSATCOM  is  to  be  managed  by 
AFTEC  and  scheduled  to  begin  in  FY  80.   Results  to  date  are  contained  in  DTSE  reports  (see  para.  1  above). 
3.  Systems  Characteristics: 
a.   UHF  mission  characteristics 
240-400  MHZ 
12-5  KHz  channels,  ^BPS,  two-way  teletype 
Anti-ja<n  .capability  -  J>
Frequency  selection,  anti-jam  capability  and  activation  of  the  STOP  execution  direction  are  ^r, 
contnandable  from  Airborne  Command  Post  or  Ground  Command  Post. 
b.   AFSCF  Mission  Characteristics       , 
1.76  -  2.3  GHz  (S-Band) 
Data  Pass  -  256  KBs,  32  KBs 
? 
y 
e.  Orbital  life  Mean  Mission  Duration  (MMD) 
Mission  characteristics  were  validated  during  Development  Test  and  Evaluation  (DT&E) .   Operational  Mjljj 
characteristics  and  orbit  performance  of  pay loads  supporting  other  systems  will  be  demonstrated  during  the 
Operational  Test  and  Evaluation  (OTSE)  of  the  supported  system,  e.q..  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications 
System  (AFSATCOM) .  
" 
mi 
f::li 
"f::::   ^ 
563