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Atlas Launches U.S. Air Force
Communications Satellite
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A Lockheed Martin
built Atlas 2A successfully launched a U.S. Air Force Defense
Satellite Communications System spacecraft, DSCS 3 B11, from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Station, pad 36A, at 0040 UTC (5:40 p.m. PDT,
October 19) on October 20. The satellite will undergo orbital
maneuvering and substantial testing once its reaches orbit before
entering service in mid-March to cover the eastern Atlantic region
of the DSCS constellation. The launch cost US$80 million.
The
US$200 million 1225 kg (2700 lbm) DSCS phase 3 satellite was built
by Lockheed Martin Space Systems. The satellite system is  used
for high priority communications and to transmit space operations
and early warning data to various systems and users. Each
satellite utilizes six ultra high frequency transponder channels
capable of providing worldwide secure voice and high rate data
communications. Each satellite also carries a single channel
transponder used to disseminate emergency action and force
direction messages to nuclear capable forces. Currently, ten Phase
3 DSCS satellites operate in geosynchronous orbit. One of the
primary satellites currently in operation will be transitioned to
the reserve fleet to make room for the new satellite in the main
constellation. Once in the backup fleet, that middle-aged craft
will replace the 15-year old DSCS B4 satellite, which will be
boosted out of its operational orbit.
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