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Milstar
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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>Milstar Block I spacecraft, or Milstar Developmental Flight Satellite (DFS)-1 and -2, were designed with a Low Data Rate (LDR) payload in the +X wing of the satellite that broadcast in the <a href="/facts/Super_High_Frequency/Bqrg4fcy">Super High Frequency</a> (SHF) and <a href="/facts/Extremely_High_Frequency/l28Grdmp">Extremely High Frequency</a> (EHF) ranges, and also a classified communication payload in the -X wing. The DFS-1 satellite was launched on 7 February 1994 aboard the first <a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)A</a> rocket, but with the classified -X wing payload deactivated. It was followed by the DFS-2 spacecraft on 7 November 1995. DFS-2 was similar to DFS-1, but the classified payload was replaced by <a href="/facts/Ballast/hF7xWfRg">ballast</a> in the form of a precision machined <a href="/facts/Aluminum/7wmR8jYE">aluminum</a> block to maintain the weight and balance characteristics of the satellite. Both Block I satellites (USA-99 and USA-115) are still operational as of March 2025, over 25 years since they were launched. </p><p>The four later satellites were Block II spacecraft, which featured an additional medium data-rate payload. The first Block II satellite (DFS-3m, a hybrid mix of largely Block I support systems and LDR payload and a MDR (Medium Data Rate) Block II payload) was launched on 30 April 1999, using a <a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)B</a> rocket. Due to a database error affecting the attitude control system of the <a href="/facts/Centaur_(rocket_stage)/ryg96uIF">Centaur</a> upper stage of its carrier rocket, it was placed into a lower orbit than had been planned, and damaged by deployment at excessive rates. It could not be raised into its operational orbit due to fuel limitations. Its orbit was raised as much as possible to increase the expected lifetime and then it was permanently turned off after 10 days.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2"><sup>2</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3"><sup>3</sup></a> It was the third consecutive, and last, failure of a Titan IV rocket. The remaining three satellites (DFS-4, -5, and -6) were launched on 27 February 2001, 15 January 2002, and 8 April 2003. </p><p>The Milstar system consists of three segments; the space segment which consists of the six satellites, ground terminals and users, and stations to command and control the satellites. The <a href="/facts/Military_Satellite_Communications_Systems_Wing/7FraN1Kq">Military Satellite Communications Systems Wing</a> (MCSW) division of the <a href="/facts/Space_and_Missile_Systems_Center/QneUkqj6">Space and Missile Systems Center</a>, located at <a href="/facts/Los_Angeles_AFB/t2oRrUnY">Los Angeles AFB</a> was responsible for development and acquisition of the Milstar space and mission control segments. The <a href="/facts/Electronic_Systems_Center/Ix0AUnGx">Electronic Systems Center</a> at <a href="/facts/Hanscom_Air_Force_Base/Gu3kYK3d">Hanscom AFB</a> is responsible for the US Air Force portion of the terminal segment development and acquisition. The <a href="/facts/4th_Space_Operations_Squadron/bbB3uLcY">4th Space Operations Squadron</a> at <a href="/facts/Schriever_Space_Force_Base/9bdpnacc">Schriever SFB</a> and the <a href="/facts/148th_Space_Operations_Squadron/zXNMBPRK">148th Space Operations Squadron</a> at <a href="/facts/Vandenberg_SFB/CHNed3F4">Vandenberg SFB</a> are responsible for providing real-time satellite control and communications payload management. </p><p>In August 2010 control of the Milstar system was transferred to the <a href="/facts/Advanced_Extremely_High_Frequency/HYjDFpIw">Advanced Extremely High Frequency</a> program, in preparation for the launch of the first AEHF satellite, <a href="/facts/USA-214/E5D5U76j">USA-214</a>. Advanced Extremely High Frequency satellites are intended to replace Milstar. </p> <h2 id="characteristics">Characteristics</h2> <p>Milstar satellites provide secure, jam resistant, worldwide communications to meet the requirements of the United States military. They were built by <a href="/facts/Lockheed_Martin/URp9BQpA">Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space Corporation</a>, at a cost of <a href="/facts/US_dollar/naEEDUhC">US$</a>800 million each. Each satellite has a design life of 10 years. Six were built, of which five reached their operational <a href="/facts/Geosynchronous_orbit/nR2yaeUg">geosynchronous orbits</a>, and remain in service. Launches were made using <a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV</a> rockets with Centaur upper stages, and all six occurred from <a href="/facts/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station_Space_Launch_Complex_40/z6Ql3cuD">Space Launch Complex 40</a> at the <a href="/facts/Cape_Canaveral_Air_Force_Station/dwJ9MCPH">Cape Canaveral Air Force Station</a>. The satellites are designed to provide communications which are hard to detect and intercept, and to be survivable in the event of <a href="/facts/Nuclear_warfare/HLRLRh4F">nuclear warfare</a>. </p><p>The spacecraft have a mass of 4,500 kilograms (9,900 lb), and are equipped with <a href="/facts/Solar_panel/gufbEu8n">solar panels</a> which generate eight <a href="/facts/Kilowatt/VK8oqRrm">kilowatts</a> of <a href="/facts/Electric_power/w61ID9yQ">electric power</a> to power its <a href="/facts/Transponder_(satellite_communications)/rsaCNccw">transponders</a>. Both Block I and Block II satellites provide low data-rate communications at bandwidths between 75 bit/s and 2,400 bit/s, whilst the Block II spacecraft can also provide medium data-rate communications between 4.8 kbit/s and 1.544 Mbit/s. The satellites' uplinks operate in the <a href="/facts/Q_band/QGXttph9">Q band</a>, while their downlinks operate within the <a href="/facts/K_band_(IEEE)/EgQjtNNL">K band</a>. The uplink corresponds to the <a href="/facts/Extremely_high_frequency/l28Grdmp">extremely high frequency</a> band while downlink corresponds to the <a href="/facts/Super_high_frequency/Bqrg4fcy">super high frequency</a> radio band. </p> <h3>Spacecraft</h3> <p class="note">"USA-99" redirects here. For the World Cup, see <a href="/facts/1999_FIFA_Women%2527s_World_Cup/btco1CYd">1999 FIFA Women's World Cup</a>.</p> <table><tbody><tr><th>USA ID</th><th>Name</th><th>Block</th><th>Launch date/time (UTC)</th><th><a href="/facts/International_Designator/AwfuQFUY">COSPAR ID</a></th><th>Rocket</th><th>Remarks</th></tr><tr><td>USA-99</td><td>DFS-1</td><td>Block I</td><td>1994-02-07, 21:47:01</td><td><a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1994-009A">1994-009A</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)A</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>USA-115</td><td>DFS-2</td><td>Block I</td><td>1995-11-06, 05:15:01</td><td><a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1995-060A">1995-060A</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)A</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>USA-143</td><td>DFS-3M</td><td>Block I/II hybrid</td><td>1999-04-30, 16:30:00</td><td><a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-023A">1999-023A</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)B</a></td><td>Launch failure</td></tr><tr><td>USA-157</td><td>DFS-4</td><td>Block II</td><td>2001-02-27, 21:20</td><td><a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2001-009A">2001-009A</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)B</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>USA-164</td><td>DFS-5</td><td>Block II</td><td>2002-01-16, 00:30:00</td><td><a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2002-001A">2002-001A</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)B</a></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>USA-169</td><td>DFS-6</td><td>Block II</td><td>2003-04-08, 13:43:00</td><td><a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-012A">2003-012A</a></td><td><a href="/facts/Titan_IV/H0TsgoPC">Titan IV(401)B</a></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul><li><a href="/facts/Advanced_Extremely_High_Frequency/HYjDFpIw">Advanced Extremely High Frequency</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Defense_Satellite_Communications_System/bLlgDKkg">Defense Satellite Communications System</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Transformational_Satellite_Communications_System/V5KVXGbC">Transformational Satellite Communications System</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Wideband_Global_SATCOM_system/c0CIqNDN">Wideband Global SATCOM system</a></li></ul> <ul><li>King, Mak and Riccio, Michael J. (Spring 2010). "Military Satellite Communications: Then and Now". <i>Crosslinks Magazine</i>. Aerospace Corp.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> <ul><li><a href="https://www.losangeles.spaceforce.mil/?id=5328">U.S. Air Force fact sheet on MILSTAR</a></li> <li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110826180043/http://satsin.com/milstar-3-advanced-extremely-high-frequency-aehf/">MILSTAR 3 / Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF)</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"MILITARY STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL RELAY (MILSTAR) SATELLITE SYSTEM - FY00 Activity". <a href="https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2000/dot-e/airforce/00milstar.html" target="_blank">https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/budget/fy2000/dot-e/airforce/00milstar.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>"NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details". nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-23. <a href="https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-023A" target="_blank">https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=1999-023A</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>"Milstar-2 1, 2, 3, 4 (Milstar 3, 4, 5, 6)". Gunter's Space Page. Retrieved 2023-03-23. <a href="https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/milstar-2.htm" target="_blank">https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/milstar-2.htm</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>