FY 1980 RDT&E DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY Program Element: #35158F Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) DoD Mission Area: Strategic Command, Control and Communications, #331 Budget Activity: Strategic Programs, 43 RESCURCES (PROJECT LISTING): ($ in thousands) / Total Project FY 1978 FY 1979 FY 1980 FY 1981 Additional Estimated Number Title Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate to Completion Costs N/A TOTAL FOR PROGRAM ELEMENT 12,800 23,500 36,300 25,500 Continuing Not Applicable The Satellite Data System (SDS) is a multi-payload, communications BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ELEMENT AND MISSION NEED: ' Operating in conjunction satellite which provides reliable and secure communications, — 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 anti-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: Total FY 1978 FY 1979 FY 1980 FY 1981 Additional Estimated Actual Estimate Estimate Estimate to Completion Costs Missile Procurement 83,200 37,900 100,300 107,500 Continuing Not Applicable Quantities Satellites 1 1 1 Launch Vehicles 1 (Agena) ene ee ae ‘
Program Flement: 435158F Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) DeD Mission Area: Strategic Command, Control and Communications, #331 Budget Activity: Strategic Programs, #3 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 iategral part of the Air Force Satellite Communications (AFSATCON) 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 coverage by providing UHF coverage which the FLTSATCOM satellites cannot provide. satellites is necessary to partially compensate for the reduced coverage and communications capacity 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 conmunica- tions between AFSCF remote tracking stations. The direct benefits of SDS will be reliable and secure direct communications which will result in greatly improved command and control of our nuclear capable forces, elimination gf the dependence on some of the vulnerabie AFSCF communications The space segment of the FLTSATCOM will be developed, procured, and launched under the Navy's The Air Force aircraft and ground UHF radio terminals required for operation The AESCF stations Space Shuttle. RELATED ACTIVITIES: FLTSATCOM Program Element, 33109N. with the FLTSATCOM and SDS satellites are funded within the AFSATCOM Program Element, 33601F. are funded under the AFSCF Program Element, 35110F. _ 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's 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. 565
Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) Program Element: #3515@F Rudget Activity: Strategic Programs, #3 DoD Mission Area: Strategic Command, Control and Communications, #331 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 The structural (X-1) and qualification (Y-1) model spacecraft and the initial flight vehicle being met or exceeded. A production (F-1) were procured incrementally with Research, Development, Test and Evaluation (RDT&E) funds. option to the development contract was exercised in FY 1974 providing for the fabrication, assembly, and test of The development and production schedules were phased to achieve Communications subsystem engineering models were A the first production spacecraft (F-2) and (F-3). the required delivery, launch, and system operational dates. completed and tested in November 1973. The structural model satellite testing was finished in May 1975. qualification 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 al) payloads after successful 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. When fully refurbished, Y-1l WAR RR — "Refurbishment of the Qualification Model Satellite (Y-1) was begun. will beccme 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 1980 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 major 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. C7 es va]
Program Element: #35158F Title: Satellite Data System (SDS) DoD Mission Area: Strategic Command, Control and Communications, #331 Budget Activity: Strategic Programs, 43 5. Program to Completion: This is a continuing program. As an integral part of the AFSATCOM (Air Force Satellite Communications) System, the program wil) 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 and to incorporate improvements for survivability and reliability. / 6. Milestones: Date Syste; Preliminary Design Review Mar 73 System Critical Design Review Mar 74 Final Integrated Systems Test Launch First Satellite (F-1) Launch Second Satellite (F-2) . Full Operational Capability AFSATCOM System IOC ~~ May 79 ou 7. Resources: Not Applicable 8. Comparison with Fy 1979 Budget Data: Not Applicable
Rudget Activity: #4 - Military Astronautics and Related Fqutpment Program Element: 35158F - Satellite Data System Test_and Evaluation Data 1. Development Test and Evaluation: The development contractor for the Satellite Data System (SDS) is Hughes Lo Aircraft Company, El Segundo, California. The first satellite was launched} Initial Operational Capability was established The first satellite (F-1) was gz 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-1) and a full-up qualification model spacecraft (Y-1). Development tests of the communications subsystems engineering models were completed {in November 1973. 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 qualifi- cation 1s 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 _ fo development program. The F-l spacecraft was acceptance tested during the The Y-l spacecraft is a full configured epacecraft which will be refurbished and used as a vehicle (F-4). back-up flight 2. Operational Test and Fvaluation: A pertion of the SDS Satellite system is to be part of the Air Force Satellite Communications (AFSATCOM) space seqment. Classical separate IOT&E was not conducted on the space segments since all operational objectives/requirements were fully integrated into the DT&E effort and were not broken out separately. Compatibility, operational characteristics and crbit 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. Resuits tc date are contained in DT&E reports (see para. 1 above). 3, Systems Characteristics: t a. UHF mission characteristics 240-400 MHZ 12 - 5 KHz channels, 7S_BPS, two-way teletype Anti-jam capability - - ee 968
Frequency selection, anti-jam capability and activation of the SIOP execution direction are comnandable 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 ——e ” eed ' ome [onl e. Orbitai life Mean Mission Duration (MMD) — teed Mission characteristics were validated during Development Test and Evaluation (DT&E). Operatcicnal characteristics and orbit performance of payloads supporting other systems will be demonstrated during the Operationai Test and Evaluation (OT&E) of the supported system, @.qg., Air Force Satellite. Communications System (AFSATCOM). : 662