FY  1982  RDTSE  DESCRIPTIVE  SUMMARY 
Program  Element t   J35158F 
DoD  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Communications,  #133 
(U)  RESOURCES  (PROJECT  LISTING) ($  In  thousands )t 
Title:   Satellite  Data  System 
Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  #3 
Project 
Number 
Title 
FY  1980 
Actual 
FY  1981 
Estimate 
FY  1982 
Estimate 
FY  1983 
Estimate 
Additional 
to  Completion 
Total 
Estimated 
Costs 
N/A 
TOTAL  FOR  PROGRAM  ELEMENT 
36,400   43,200     29,100    15,600    Continuing    Not  Applicable 
(U)  BRIEF  DESCRIPTION  OF  ELEMENT  AND  MISSION  NEED:   The  Satellite  Data  System  is  a  multi-payload,  communications 
^  '  BK1"    uasiwirnwi  ^r  o^ 
  »4^«,  The  Satellite  Data  System  provides  a 
satellite  which  provides  reliable  communications,  ine  aateij-xuc  ucu   J     *, 
oortion  of  the  coverage  required  by  the  Air  Force'Satellite  Communications  System  for  essential  command  and  control 
^unlcations  to  our'nucle^r  capable  forces.   It  also  provides  a  high  speed  link  between  Air  Force  Satellite  Control 
Facility  remote  tracking  stations  for  command  and  control, 
(U)  BASIS  FOR  FY  1982  RDT&E  REQUEST:   This  request  includes  funds  for  continuing  the  multi-year  design  and  develop- 
ment  efforts  to  improve  the  anti-jam  capabilities  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  ^""^^""^^P^^IcaJ  ° 
included  is  the  multi-year  development  necessary  to  produce  a  Space  Shuttle  optimized  **«""«•   ™e  Crit leal 
Design  Review  for  these  efforts  occurs  in  this  fiscal  year.  Sustaining  engineering  support,  required  on  a  contin- 
ing  basis,  is  also  included.   These  estimates  are  based  on  contractor  proposals  and  past  experience  for  the  sus- 
taining engineering  support. 
S 
t 
(U)  COMPARISON  WITH  FY  1981  DESCRIPTIVE  SUMMARY: 
FY  1980   FY  1981    FY  1982    FY  1983    Additional 
   Estimate  Estimate  Estimate  to  Completion 
RDT&E 
procurement  (MISSILE) 
(U)  OTHER  APPROPRIATION  FUNDS: 
Procurement  (MISSILE) 
(Quantity) 
Operation  *rd   Maintenance 
36,300    45,300     27,900 
100,200    92,700     39,400 
Continuing 
Continuing 
Total 
Estimated 
Costs 
Not  Applicable 
Not  Applicable 
100,200 
(D 
8,500 
95,500 
(D 
10,300 
43,200 
11,300 
161,900 
(1) 
11,500 
Continuing    Not  Applicable 
Continuing    Not  Applicable 
541
Program  Element:   t35156F  Title:    Satellite  Data  System 
Don  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Communications,  »133  Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  13 
[Q)    DETAILED  BACKGROUND  AMD  DESCRIPTION:   The  Satellite  Data  System  provides  critical,  _  real-         jf 
time  command,  control,  and  communications  for  Strategic  Air  Command  Single  Integrated  Operational  Plan  andother 
nuclear  capable  forces.   It  is  an  integral  part  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  System  which  also  includes 
the  Ultra  High  Frequency  communications  capability  on  the  geosynchronous  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  satellites, 
plgqy-back  transponders  on  selected  host  satellites,  and  airborne/ground  radio  terminals.   As  such,  the  Satellite 
Data  System  complements  the  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  coverage  by  providing  the  polar  coverage  which  the  o^her 
satellites  cannot  provide.  ~ 
Additionally,  the  Satellite  Data  System  supports  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility  requirement  for  reliable, 
two-way  high  data  rate  communications  with  its  remote  tracking  stations.  >^ 
The  direct  benefits  of  the  Satellite  Data  System  are  reliable  and  secure  direct  communications         jf 
which  will  result  in  greatly  improved  command  and  control  of  our  nuclear  capable  forces,     >^" 
Elimination  of  the  dependence  on  some  of  the  vulnerable  Air  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility  communications,, 
(D|  RELATED  ACTIVITIES:   The  space  segment  of  the  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  System  was  developed,  procured,  and 
launched  under  the  Navy'n  Program  Element,  33109N.   The  Air  Force  ground  Ultra  High  Frequency  radio  terminals  needed 
for  operation  with  the  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  and  Satellite  Data  System  satellites  are  funded  within  the  Air  ■ 
Force  Satellite  Communication a  System  Program  Element,  33601F.   Terminals  Installed  in  aircraft  were  funded  in  the 
specific  weapons  system/aircraft  Program  Element.   The  Air  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility  network  is  funded  under 
Program  Element,  35110F.  I  Space  Shuttle       ^ 
flights  for  the  Satellite  Data  System  satellites  are  provided  by  the  Space  Launch  Support  Program,  Program  Element, 
35171F. 
(U)  WORK  PERFORMED  BY:   Air  Force  Systems  Command's  Space  Division,  Los  Angeles,  CA,  is  responsible  for  the 
Satellite  Data  System.   The  prime  contractor  is  Hughes  Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  CA.   General  Systems  Engineering 
and  Integration  is  performed  by  the  Aerospace  Corporation,  El  Segundo,  CA. 
542
Program  Element:   I35158F 
DoD  Mission  Area i   Strategic  Communications,  1133 
(l\)    PROGRAM  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  AND  FUTURE  PROGRAMS! 
Title:   Satellite  Data  System 
Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  #3 
i\}\   1.   FY  1980  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  awarded  in 
June  1972.   The  system  Critical  Design  Review  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  payloads  were  fully  checked  out 
on-orbit.   Full  operational  capability  was  declared  for  all  payloads  .after  successful  on-orbit 
checkout. 
Primary  activities  in  FY  1980  included  the  continuation  of  design  and  development  activities  associated 
with  improving  the  anti-Jam  capabilities  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  System  payload  on  the  sixth  and 
subsequent  satellites,  the  continuation  of  the  multi-year  development  of  a  Space  Shuttle  optimized  design  on  the 
sixth  and  subsequent  satellites,  reliability  improvement  efforts,  and  sustaining  engineering  support. 
(U)  2.   FY  1981  Program:   Efforts  for  this  year  include  sustaining  engineering  support,  continuing  design  and  devel- 
opment activities  to  improve  the  anti-jam  capabilities  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  System  payload  on 
the  sixth  Satellite  Data  System  satellite,  and  continuing  the  multi-year  development  necessary  to  transition  the 
sixth  and  subsequent  satellites  to  the  Space  Shuttle.   FY  1981  is  the  peak  year  for  these  development  efforts,  cul- 
minating In  a  Critical  Design  Review  and  qualification  testing.   Also  included  are  continuing  efforts  to  improve 
satellite  payload  reliabilities. 
(U)  3.   FY  1982  Planned  Program:   Planned  efforts  include  the  continuation  of  the  development  efforts  related  to 
the  Space  Shuttle  optimization  and  the  completion  of  the  development  of  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications 
payload  anti-jam  improvements.   Sustaining  engineering  support  and  payload  reliability  improvements  will  also  be 
continued.   The  difference  in  the  current  and  previous  ypar  est-lmatps  in    price  rvqo*l*t:lon  b.itod  on  .in  Jnrro.inH 
inflation  factor. 
(U)  4.   FY  1993  Planned  Program:   The  FY  1983  plan  is  to  continue  sustaining  engineering  support  and  payload  relia- 
bility improvements  and  to  complete  the  development  efforts  related  to  Space  Shuttle  optimization. 
P 
543
jf 
Program  Element t   »35158F  Title:   Satellite  Data  System 
UoD  Mission  Area:   Strategic  Communications,  #133  Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  »3 
(\jf  5.   Program  to  Completion:   This  is  a  continuing  program.   As  an  integral  part  of  the  ».ir  Force  Satellite 
Communications  System,  the  program  will  continue  to  provide  critical  communications  coverage 
and  be  totally  compatible  with  the  system's  aircraft  and  ground  radio  terminals.   Sustaining  engineering  support 
will  be  required  to  maintain  design  compatibility  and  to  incorporate  Improvements  for  survivabiiity^and  reliability. 
Replenishment  satellites  will  be  procured  to  provide  the  required  operational  availability,  s* 
—  jr 
(,j\  6.   Milestones:  Date 
Program  Start  October  1971 
System  Preliminary  Design  Review  March  1973 
System  Critical  Design  Review  March  1974     
Launch  First  Satellite  (F-l) 
Launch  Second  Satellite  (F-2)  &^ 
Full  Operational  Capability 
AFSATCOM  System  IOC  May  1979 
■f< 
Critical  Design  Review  for  Shuttle  June  1981 
^  optimized  (Seventh)  Satellite 
jf 
*   Date  presented  in  Fiscal  Year  1981  Descriptive  Summaries 
i! 
(\J\   EXPLANATION  OF  MILESTONE  CHANGES: 
^ 
i :: 
544
Budget  Activity:   Strategic  Programs,  13 
 
y. 
Program  Element:   #35158F,  Satellite  Data  System 
1.   (O)  Development  Test  and  Evaluation:   The  development  contractor  for  the  Satellite  Data  System  was 
Hughes  Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  California.   The  first  satellite  was  launched  -   - 
Initial  Operational  Capability  was  established  in  The  first  satellite  (F-l)    x« 
was  funded  entirely  within  the  development  program.   The  second  satellite  (F-?)  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  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  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  including  shock,  acoustic,  modal  survey,  thermal,  electromagnetic  interference, 
solar-thermal  vacuum,  and  integrated  system  test.   The  F-l  spacecraft  was  acceptance  tested  during  the 
The  Y-l  spacecraft  was  a  fully  configured  spacecraft  which 
hap  been  refurbished  and  designated  as  flight  vehicle  (F-4). 
y 
2.   (U)  Operational  Test  and  Evaluation:   A  portion  of  the  Satellite  Data  System  is  to  be  part  of  the  Air  Force 
Satellite  Communications  space  segment.   Classical  separate  Initial  Operational  Test  and  Evaluation  was  not 
conducted  on  the  space  segments  since  all  operational  objectives  and  requirements  were  fully  integrated  into 
the  Development  Test  and  Evaluation  effort  and  were  not  broken  out  separately.   Compatibility,  operational 
characteristics,  and  orbit  performance  of  payloads  supporting  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  program 
are  scheduled  to  be  demonstrated  during  the  follow-on  test  and  evaluation  which  Is  managed  by  the  Air  Force  Test 
and  Evaluation  Center.   Results  to  date  are  contained  in  Development  Test  and  Evaluation  reports  (see  paragraph  1 
above). 
3.   (0)  Systems  Characteristics: 
Characteristics 
Objectives 
Demonstrated 
Data  Rate  in  words 
per  minute 
Message  Bit  Error  Rate 
per  ten  thousand  bits 
/ 
Anti-Jam  Protection  (decibel  watt) 
J 
545