DSCS-3

DSCS-3 [USAF]

DSCS-3 (Defense Satellite Communications System 3) are geostationary communication satellites, which provide a robust anti-jam, nuclear hardened capability that supports Department of Defense (DoD) worldwide requirements, White House and Diplomatic communications. They are the follow-on generation of the DSCS-2 satellites.

The system is used for high priority communications such as the exchange of wartime information between defense officials and battlefield commanders. The system provides uninterrupted secure voice and high-data rate communications to globally fixed and mobile DoD users, NATO, the United Kingdom, the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service, and the White House Communications Agency.

DSCS-3 carries:

• six independent Super High Frequency (SHF) transponders and one special purpose single channel transponder operating on both SHF and Ultra High Frequency
• Three receive antennas (two Earth coverage horns, one steerable 61-beam nulling lens)
• Five transmit antennas (two Earth coverage horns, two steerable 19-beam wave guide lens, one high gain parabolic gimbaled dish)

Two solar wings produce 1700 Watts of onboard power at the beginning of life and 1230 watts at the end of life.

DSCS-3 satellites were designed to be injected directly into GEO by the launch vehicle (Titan-34D IUS, Titan-34D Transtage or Shuttle IUS) without the need to incorporate an apogee kick engine. Switching to Atlas-2, Atlas-2A and Delta-4M launch vehicles made it necessary to include a dedicated apogee kick stage into the launch vehicle (IABS) for injecting the DCS-3 into GEO orbit.

The DSCS-3 is succeeded by the WGS series of satellites.