FY  1975  KDTkE  DESCRIPTIVE  SUMMARY 
rrogrom  Element  H  35U§F  T{+u     Satellite  Pat*  Svntgn, 
Category   Intelligence  and  Communications    Rudpet  Activity  #/+  -  Military  flrtronnutlcr:  nnd  Rplgt^-*  Eqn*r-.*nt 
BACKGROUND  AND  DESCRIPTION:  The  Satellite  Data  System  (SDS)  is  designed  to  provide  critical  transpolar,  twc- 
vay,  real-time  command,  control  and  communications  for  Strategic  Air  Command  Single  Integrated  Operational 
Plan  (SIOP)  forces.   Since  a  synchronous  equatorial  orbit  cannot  provide  communications  coverage  over  the  _  ^S 
polar  regions  above  TO  degrees  North  Lati^ude^^  highly  inclined  ellipticajjorbit  was  selected  to  provide  *£/ 
~  .  The  SDS  is  an  integral  part  of  the  >• 
Air  Force  Satellite  Communications  (AFSATCOM)  system  which  includes  the  Air  Force  Ultra  High  Frequency  (1JNF) 
communications  capability  on  the  synchronous  equatorial  Fleet  Satellite  Communications  (FLTSATCOM)  system, 
piggy-back  transponders  on  selected  host  satellites,  and  airborne/ground  radio  terminals.  As  such,  the  SDS  will 
complement  the  FLTSATCOM  system  by  providing  the  requisite  polar  UHF  capability.  Additionally,  the  SDS  will 
support  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Control  Facility  (AFSCF)  requirement  for  reliable  two-way  high  data  rate,  S-Band 
communications  between  the  AFSCF  remote  tracking  station  at  Thule,  Greenland  and  the  CONUS.  The  direct  benefits 
derived  from  the  SDS  communications  capabilities  will  be  the  reliable  and  secure  direct  communications  linkage 
over  the  polar  regions  to  provide  greatly  improved  command  and  control  of  SIOP  forces  and  eliminate  the  de- 
pendence on  vulnerable  undersea  cables  to  the  Thule  station. 
RELATED  ACTIVITIES:  The  Space  segment  of  the  FLTSATCOM  will  be  developed,  procured  and  launched  under 
FLTSATCOM  Program  Element  (PE)  33109N.  The  Air  Force  aircraft  and  ground  UHF  radio  terminals  required  for 
operation  with  the  FLTSATCOM  and  SDS  satellites  will  be  procured  within  the  Air  Force  Satellite  Communications' 
System  (AFSATCOM),  PE  33601F.   The  AFSCF  stations  are  funded  under  the  AFSCF  Program  Element,  PE  35UOF. 
WORK  PERFORMED  BY:  Headquarters,  Air  Force  Systems  Command,  Space  and  Missile  Systems  Organization  (SAMSO), 
Los  Angeles,  California,  is  responsible  for  the  Satellite  Data  System.  The  primary  contractor  is  Hughes 
Aircraft  Company,  El  Segundo,  California.  General  Systems  Engineering  and  Technical  Direction  (GSE/TD)  is 
performed  by  The  Aerospace  Corporation,  El  Segundo,  California. 
PROGRAM  ACCOMPLISHMENTS  AND  FUTURE  PROGRAMS: 
1.  FY  1973  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 
acquisition  contractor  was  selected  by  competitive  source  selection  and  a  system  development  contract  was 
awarded  in  June  1972.  The  system  preliminary  design  review  (FDR)  was  successfully  completed  in  March  of  1973 
with  all  critical  specifications  being  met  or  exceeded.  Fabrication  of  communications  subsystem  engineering 
models  was  begun  during  FY  1973. 
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Budget  Activity  0U  -   Military  Astronautics  and  Related  Equipment 
Program  Element  #  35158F  Title  Satellite  Data  System 
2.   FY  197-)  Frogram:  The  initial  flight  vehicle  in  being  procured  incrementally  with  RDTl-E  funds.  A  pro- 
duction option  to  the  development  contract  was  exercised  beginning  in  Ff   197^ •   This  option  provides  for   the 
fabrication,  assembly,  and  test  of  the  first  production  model  spacecraft.  The  development  and  production 
schedules  are  phased  to  achieve  the  required  delivery,  launch  and  system  operational  dates. 
""  The  key  to  this 
phased  schedule  is  that  subsystem  lead-time  is  essential  €5  achieve  an  orderly  spacecraft  production  flow. 
Critical  development  and  qualification  activity  is  completed  before  subsystem/system  fabrication  and  assembly 
is  begun  and  all  development  activity  is  completed  before  production  is  started  at  each  critical  stage.  The 
communications  subsystem  engineering  models  were  completed  by  November  1973  and  testing  was  started.  System 
critical  design  review  (CDR)  is  scheduled  for  the  third  quarter  FT  197**.  Fabrication  of  the  structural  model 
spacecraft  was  started  along  with  development  and  fabrication  of  spacecraft  qualification  subsystems  and  test 
equipment.  Structural  model  tests  will  begin  in  the  third  quarter  followed  by  subsystem  qualification  and 
qualification  model  spacecraft  buildup.  Development  of  spacecraft  telemetry  and  command  software  will  be 
continued. 
3.  FY  1975  Planned  Program:  Subsystem  and  system  level  qualification  testing  will  be  completed  during  this 
period  to  fully  validate  the  system  design.  As  key  subsystem  qualification  tests  are  successfully  completed; 
fabrication,  assembly  and  tests  of  flight  subsystems  will  be  started.  This  phased  development  and  production 
schedule  will  continue  in  preparation  for  flight  spacecraft  assembly  and  test.  Launch  vehicle  integration 
engineering  and  spacecraft  software  development  will  be  continued  during  this  fiscal  year. 
1*.  Program  to  Completion:  This  is  a  continuing^  program.  As  $yi  integral  part  of  the  AJFSATCOM  system,  the 
program  will  continue  to  provide  critical  coramunication.8_coverage  and  be  totally  com- 
patible with  the  AFSATCOM  aircraft  and  groundradio  terminals. 
sustaining  engineering  support  will  be  required 
to  maintain  design  compatibility  and  incorporate  improvements  for  survivability,  reliability,  and  capability 
and  provide  replenishment  spacecraft 
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R-  u  d  go  t  Activity     Kh   -  Military   Astronautics  and  Related   Equipment 
Program   Element   /?  35150F  Title     Satellite   Data  System 
5-  Milestones: 
a.  Systems  PDR 
b.  Systems  CDR 
c.  First  Article  Config.  Tnsp. 
d.  Launch  First  Spacecraft 
e.  Launch  Second  Spacecraft 
f.  Full  Operational  Capability 
RESOURCES:   ($  in  Millions) 
Date 
Mar  1973 
Mar  197J» 
FDT&E: 
Funds    (3600) 
•Quantities 
Plight  Model  Spacecraft 
T-IIIB/Agena  Launch   Vehicles 
FY   1973        FY   197U        FY   1975 
23. U  1*1.9  36.5 
Estimnted   Cumulative   lUnwp 
Cost    to   Kench   Mi  Ict'tono:; 
($   in  Millions)   
'19.6 
06.6 
Additional 
to 
Completion 
•These  quantities  will  be  procured  over  the  lifetime  of  the  program. 
Procurement: 
Funds  (30?0) 
Quantities 
Flight  Model  Spacecraft 
T-IIIB/Agena  Launcfi  Vehicles 
35.0 
35.8 
Total 
Estimated 
Cost 
Continuing    Not  Applicable 
Continuing   .      Not  ApplicrMe 
J 
••The  Qualification  Spacecraft  will  be  refurbished  and  used  as  a  backup  flight  ap.iro. 
/ 
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