Satellites/Current Programs

 

Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) Aerospace has been supporting DSCS since its inception in the 1970s. The system comprises several satellites that provide worldwide, secure, two-way X-band communications and continental United States Air Force Strategic Communication services. The system provides wideband technical communication for the National Command Authority, strategic forces, military forces, diplomatic services. The system also serves the government’s long-term fixed communications needs.

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) DMSP provides high-quality weather images to the U.S. military and civilian communities. Aerospace has provided key acquisition, systems engineering, testing and integration, launch, operation, and user support to the system for more than 30 years. We have also been integral to the system’s enhancement through several versions or blocks of satellites. Aerospace is also involved in the development of the next-generation weather satellite system, the National Polar Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, or NPOESS.

Defense Support Program (DSP) Aerospace provides critical support to DSP, which comprises 23 missile launch-warning satellites that will be replaced by the Space Based Infrared System High program, the development of which we also support. Aerospace has devised and demonstrated new ways to merge DSP data with other intelligence information for real-time tactical force updates and for detecting forest fires and other natural disasters and phenomena.

Global Broadcast Service (GBS)

Developed in the mid-1990s, GBS can rapidly deliver large volumes of information to military users. Its need became apparent during Operation Desert Storm, when bandwidth constraints limited the amount of information that could be transmitted to the frontline. Because of GBS, critical video, maps, charts, weather patterns and digital data can be transmitted in seconds to mobile users equipped with small tactical terminals.

Global Positioning System (GPS) Aerospace has remained a significant development partner in the operation, upgrade and enhancement of GPS since the systems inception in the 1970s.  Aerospace tracks the performance of the on-orbit satellites to forecast the future needs of the system. The block IIR, or the third generation of GPS satellites, has been integrated into the constellation to replace the aging block II and IIA satellites. Aerospace has been integral to development of the system’s modernized IIRM satellites, which are now completing production and being deployed. These satellites will add new civilian and military navigation signals to enhance the accuracy and availability of GPS.

Milstar The first Milstar I satellite was launched in 1994, and Aerospace supported the integration and test of the Milstar I and II series of satellites. The Milstar program provides National Command Authorities and Department of Defense users with worldwide survivable extremely high-frequency (EHF) communications. The system supports strategic and tactical missions using fixed-site terminals and small mobile terminals. Global connectivity is provided through satellite EHF crosslinks, which will be replaced by the Advanced Extremely High Frequency  program as our military's core communications system.

Navy Space Systems

Aerospace supports the Navy’s Ultrahigh Frequency Follow-On (UFO/FO) Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). UFO/FO is the legacy narrowband satellite communications system, for which Aerospace continues to provide operational support. Currently under development is MUOS, the next-generation narrowband satellite communications system, which is part of the Defense Department’s Transformational Communications Architecture. In support of MUOS, Aerospace provides space-based communication system acquisition support, including independent program assessments, contractor product development reviews, and specialized technical analyses.

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Programs

Aerospace provides planning, development, test and launch preparation support to classified NRO programs. The NRO has launched new initiatives in terrestrial and spaceborne communications to meet increasing demands for high-data-rate intelligence. We also support the NRO's exploration and development of international and commercial partnerships in new reconnaissance systems. We are also working to help develop new imaging and remote-sensing capabilities for national security.

Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS)

The Space Based Space Surveillance System will provide the Air Force with its first on-orbit sensor with a primary Space Situational Awareness (SSA) mission.  Aerospace is an integral part of the program team and plays a critical role in providing development, integration, test and operations planning support to the SBSS program. The SBSS system will greatly enhance the Air Force’s SSA capabilities by providing a space sensor that is not restricted by the Earth’s weather or geographical obstacles, which allows the satellite to provide significantly more timely observations of the military’s space assets. The initial Pathfinder satellite is scheduled to launch in December 2008.

Space Test Program (STP)

The corporation’s Space Test and Experimentation Directorate supports the Air Force’s Space Development and Test Wing located at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico. Our support includes the full spectrum of space-related activities from concept development to satellite acquisition and testing, systems integration, ground systems development, pre-launch and launch support, operations, and data extraction.

Weather Satellites

In addition to the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), Aerospace has assisted NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with planning, engineering, launch, and early operational support for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) and the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) systems. We have also been involved in the development of the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Satellite System (NPOESS), the next-generation low Earth-orbit weather satellite that will replace existing civil and military weather-tracking satellite programs.

Wideband Gapfiller Satellite Program Aerospace is the technical advisor to the Air Force on the next-generation Wideband Gapfiller System (WGS), which will augment and eventually replace the communications capabilities of the existing Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) constellation. WGS will provide agile, high-capacity X- and Ka-band communication during peacetime military operations, as well as between command posts and the battlefield during wartime. WGS satellites will be the most capable and powerful communications satellites ever launched by the Department of Defense. First launch is planned in 2007.

Satellites/Future Programs

 

Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) Program Aerospace has played an integral role in developing the AEHF program, which will succeed the Milstar program as the nation's core protected communications system for strategic and tactical defense missions. The AEHF program will provide 10 times greater total network capacity and offer channel data rates six times higher than those of the military’s Milstar II communications satellites. AEHF will provide worldwide, secure, survivable satellite communications and advanced services across a broad range of mission areas to include land, air, and naval warfare; special operations; strategic nuclear operations; strategic defense; theater missile defense; and space operations and intelligence. The first satellite launch is scheduled for 2008.

Missile Defense Agency (MDA) Programs

Aerospace engineers and scientists are applying their expertise to developing the nation's ballistic missile defense system for the protection of the U.S. homeland, troops deployed abroad, and our allies. Aerospace supports the MDA at many levels, from top-level systems-engineering efforts to detailed element hardware acquisitions. The principal MDA satellite program is the Space Tracking and Surveillance System, or STSS, which will support our nation’s ballistic-missile defense needs with below- and above-the-horizon coverage for strategic and theater ballistic missiles in boost, post-boost, midcourse, and reentry phases of flight. The low-earth-orbiting STSS block 06 research-and-development program consists of a two-satellite space segment and a ground segment that support missile defense flight experiments. Aerospace is also involved in other programs including command, control, battle management and communications (C2BMC); consolidated test force; sensors; advance technology; information assurance; and the Airborne Laser program.

GPS (Block IIF, III) Aerospace continues to provide key technical expertise to the development and production of the next-generation block IIF GPS satellites, which will launch in 2008. Block IIF will sustain the modernized services and introduce a new navigation signal designed for aviation users. Aerospace is also involved in planning for GPS III, the fifth generation of Navstar GPS satellites. These satellites will continue to deliver the new civilian signals and improved military codes and will introduce new capabilities for civilian and military users. The first launch of GPS III satellites is expected no earlier than 2012.

National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) The National Polar Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) will combine the civil and military polar weather satellite programs POES and DMSP into a single program. Aerospace has played a leading role in critical sensor development and in the planning and implementation of the NPOESS Preparatory Program, a joint program between NASA and the Air Force to fly some of the NPOESS instruments and provide a follow-on science capability to NASA's Earth Observing System program. First launch is planned for 2013.

Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Aerospace provides systems engineering and integration, risk-performance assessments, and assistance in product development, performance testing, acquisition management, and mission operations to the development of the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS). SBIRS is a planned constellation of geosynchronous-orbit satellites and highly elliptical-orbit payloads with a consolidated, common ground system built to meet U.S. surveillance needs over the next 20 to 30 years. SBIRS will replace the Defense Satellite Program (DSP) system and support multiple missions, including missile warning and detection, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization. First launch is planned for 2008.

Space Radar

Aerospace provides expert technical and acquisition support to the Space Radar Integrated Program, which is being designed to provide global persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to the Defense Department and intelligence organizations, including worldwide day-night/all-weather imagery, moving-target information, and 3-D radar-mapping data. The system will give decision makers the ability to simultaneously look deep into denied areas of interest, in multiple theaters, across all levels of conflict nonintrusively and without risk to personnel or resources. The initial launch of the system is scheduled for 2016.

Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT)

Aerospace is supporting the development of the Transformational Satellite Communications (TSAT) program, which will result in a single integrated, synchronized communications network consisting of both satellite and ground capabilities. Also called, the "Internet in the sky," the system will link various existing military and reconnaissance communications networks, giving the warfighter and intelligence community a stronger communications capability to meet emerging threats and evolving mission requirements. The system will provide more than 10 times the total network capacity of previous programs. Aerospace has played an integral role in initiating this program, which will succeed the Milstar and AEHF programs as the nation's core protected communications system for strategic and tactical defense missions. First launch is planned for 2014.