IDCSP [USAF]
The IDCSP (Initial Defense Communications satellite Program) provided the Pentagon with its first near-geosynchronous communications system and replaced the cancelled ADVENT project.
IDCSP satellites were spin-stabilized 26 sided polygons, 86 cm in diameter, covered with solar panels, and had a mass of 45 kg. The simple satellites featured no batteries and no active attitude control system. Each satellite contained a single X-band transponder with a 26 MHz bandwidth. While designers planned for the satellites to last three years, the IDCSP satellites were kept on for a five-year span and were to turn off after six years.
IDCSP 19 was also called DATS (Despun Antenna Test Satellite), as it tested a more efficient electronically despun antenna platform.
Up to eight were dispersed on a single Titan-3C rocket into slightly sub-synchronous orbit where they would drift about thirty degrees per day. The idea was that a backup was always visible to the earth station if one failed.
IDCSP satellites transmitted reconnaissance photos and other data during the Vietnam war. The satellites were also used by the NATO states, which referred to them as NATO-1.
They were succeeded by NATO-2 and DSCS-2 true geosynchronous satellites.
Nation: | USA |
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Type / Application: | Communication |
Operator: | US Air Force (USAF) |
Contractors: | Philco-Ford |
Equipment: | 1 X-band transponder |
Configuration: | Spin-Stabilization, omnidirectional antenna (despun antenna on #19) |
Propulsion: | None |
Power: | Solar cells |
Lifetime: | 3 years |
Mass: | 45 kg |
Orbit: | 33030 km × 33549 km, 1.2° |
Satellite | COSPAR | Date | LS | Launch Vehicle | Remarks | |
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IDCSP 1 → DSCS-1 1 (OPS 9311) | 1966-053B | 16.06.1966 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, GGTS 1 | |
IDCSP 2 → DSCS-1 2 (OPS 9312) | 1966-053C | 16.06.1966 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, GGTS 1 | |
IDCSP 3 → DSCS-1 3 (OPS 9313) | 1966-053D | 16.06.1966 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, GGTS 1 | |
IDCSP 4 → DSCS-1 4 (OPS 9314) | 1966-053E | 16.06.1966 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, GGTS 1 | |
IDCSP 5 → DSCS-1 5 (OPS 9315) | 1966-053F | 16.06.1966 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, GGTS 1 | |
IDCSP 6 → DSCS-1 6 (OPS 9316) | 1966-053G | 16.06.1966 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, GGTS 1 | |
IDCSP 7 → DSCS-1 7 (OPS 9317) | 1966-053H | 16.06.1966 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, GGTS 1 | |
IDCSP (8) | 1966-F08 | 26.08.1966 | CC LC-41 | F | Titan-3C | with IDCSP (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), GGTS 2 |
IDCSP (9) | 1966-F08 | 26.08.1966 | CC LC-41 | F | Titan-3C | with IDCSP (8), (10), (11), (12), (13), (14), GGTS 2 |
IDCSP (10) | 1966-F08 | 26.08.1966 | CC LC-41 | F | Titan-3C | with IDCSP (8), (9), (11), (12), (13), (14), GGTS 2 |
IDCSP (11) | 1966-F08 | 26.08.1966 | CC LC-41 | F | Titan-3C | with IDCSP (8), (9), (10), (12), (13), (14), GGTS 2 |
IDCSP (12) | 1966-F08 | 26.08.1966 | CC LC-41 | F | Titan-3C | with IDCSP (8), (9), (10), (11), (13), (14), GGTS 2 |
IDCSP (13) | 1966-F08 | 26.08.1966 | CC LC-41 | F | Titan-3C | with IDCSP (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (14), GGTS 2 |
IDCSP (14) | 1966-F08 | 26.08.1966 | CC LC-41 | F | Titan-3C | with IDCSP (8), (9), (10), (11), (12), (13), GGTS 2 |
IDCSP 8 → DSCS-1 8 (OPS 9321) | 1967-003A | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | |
IDCSP 9 → DSCS-1 9 (OPS 9322) | 1967-003B | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | |
IDCSP 10 → DSCS-1 10 (OPS 9323) | 1967-003C | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | |
IDCSP 11 → DSCS-1 11 (OPS 9324) | 1967-003D | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 | |
IDCSP 12 → DSCS-1 12 (OPS 9325) | 1967-003E | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15 | |
IDCSP 13 → DSCS-1 13 (OPS 9326) | 1967-003F | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15 | |
IDCSP 14 → DSCS-1 14 (OPS 9327) | 1967-003G | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15 | |
IDCSP 15 → DSCS-1 15 (OPS 9328) | 1967-003H | 18.01.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 | |
IDCSP 16 → DSCS-1 16 (OPS 9331) | 1967-066A | 01.07.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 17, 18, 19, LES 5, DODGE | |
IDCSP 17 → DSCS-1 17 (OPS 9332) | 1967-066B | 01.07.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 16, 18, 19, LES 5, DODGE | |
IDCSP 18 → DSCS-1 18 (OPS 9333) | 1967-066C | 01.07.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 16, 17, 19, LES 5, DODGE | |
IDCSP 19-DATS → DSCS-1 19-DATS (OPS 9334) | 1967-066D | 01.07.1967 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 16, 17, 18, LES 5, DODGE | |
IDCSP 20 → DSCS-1 20 (OPS 9341) | 1968-050A | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 | |
IDCSP 21 → DSCS-1 21 (OPS 9342) | 1968-050B | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 | |
IDCSP 22 → DSCS-1 22 (OPS 9343) | 1968-050C | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 | |
IDCSP 23 → DSCS-1 23 (OPS 9344) | 1968-050D | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 20, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 27 | |
IDCSP 24 → DSCS-1 24 (OPS 9345) | 1968-050E | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 | |
IDCSP 25 → DSCS-1 25 (OPS 9346) | 1968-050F | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 27 | |
IDCSP 26 → DSCS-1 26 (OPS 9347) | 1968-050G | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27 | |
IDCSP 27 → DSCS-1 27 (OPS 9348) | 1968-050H | 13.06.1968 | CC LC-41 | Titan-3C | with IDCSP 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26 |
Further IDCSP / DSCS / WGS missions:
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Further NATO missions:
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