NOSS-1 MSD (Parcae MSD, White Cloud MSD)

NOSS-MSD with three NOSS
satellites attached

NOSS-MSD (Naval Ocean Surveillance Satellites - Multiple Satellite Dispenser), also referred by the code names White Cloud and Parcae, are dispensers for the NOSS satellite triplets.

These satellites were developed by the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). Each launch on top of an modified Atlas-E/F rocket consisted of the MSD mother satellite, which also acted as an upper stage for the stack using an integrated FW-4D solid rocket motor. In orbit, three NOSS satellites were separated and flew together in a triangle formation.

Around the base of the cylindrical MSD was a jettisonable plume shield to protect the NOSS subsatellites. In three launches these plume shields were modified to function as low-cost experimental satellites under the designation LIPS.