 U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet
MILSTAR SATELLITE COMMUNICATIONS
SYSTEM
Mission Milstar is a
joint service satellite communications system that provides secure,
jam resistant, worldwide communications to meet essential wartime
requirements for high priority military users. The multi-satellite
constellation will link command authorities with a wide variety of
resources, including ships, submarines, aircraft and ground
stations.
Features Milstar is the most advanced military communications
satellite system to date and represents the future of the U.S.
communications capability. The operational Milstar satellite
constellation will consist of four satellites positioned around the
Earth in geosynchronous orbits. Each mid-latitude satellite weighs
approximately 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms) and have a design life
of 10 years.
Each Milstar satellite serves as a smart
switchboard in space by directing traffic from terminal to terminal
anywhere on the Earth. Since the satellite actually processes the
communications signal and can link with other Milstar satellites
through crosslinks, the requirement for ground controlled switching
is significantly reduced. The satellite establishes, maintains,
reconfigures and disassembles required communications circuits as
directed by the users. Milstar terminals provide encrypted voice,
data, teletype or facsimile communications. A key goal of Milstar is
to provide interoperable communications among the users of Army,
Navy, and Air Force Milstar terminals.
Geographically
dispersed mobile and fixed control stations provide survivable and
enduring operational command and control for the Milstar
constellation.
Background The first
Milstar satellite was launched Feb. 7, 1994 aboard a Titan IV
expendable launch vehicle. The second was launched Nov. 5, 1995.
Beginning with the third launch in 1999, the satellites will have
greatly increased capacity because of an additional medium data rate
payload. A total of six launches are planned.
The Milstar
system is composed of three segments: space (the satellites),
terminal (the users) and mission control. Air Force
Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air
Force Base, Calif., is responsible for development and acquisition
of the Milstar space and mission control segments. The Electronics
Systems Center at Hanscom AFB, Mass., is responsible for the Air
Force portion of the terminal segment development and acquisition.
The 4th Space Operations Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., is the
front line organization providing real-time satellite platform
control and communications payload management.
General Characteristics Primary function: Global military
communications system Primary contractor: Lockheed Martin
Missiles and Space Power plant: Solar panels generating
8,000 watts Weight: About 10,000 pounds (4,536 kilograms)
Orbit altitude: 22,250 nautical miles (inclined
geostationary orbit) Payload: Low data rate
communications (voice, data, teletype and facsimile) at 75 bps to
2,400) bps (All satellites) Medium data rate communications
(voice, data, teletype, facsimile) at 4.8 kbps to 1.544 bps
(Satellites 3 through 6 only) Launch vehicle: Titan
IVB/Centaur upper stage Inventory: 2 Unit Cost:
$800 million
Point of
Contact Air Force Space
Command, Public Affairs Office; 150 Vandenberg St., Suite 1105;
Peterson AFB, CO 80914-4500; DSN 692-3731 or (719)
554-3731.
March
2003
|
 |
|