DMSP-5D3 F15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20

DMSP-5D3 [USAF]

DMSP-5D3 is the most recent version of the military meteorological satellites of the Defence Meteorological Satellite Program.

Instruments are:

Operational Linescan System (OLS) weather imager;
SSMIS (microwave imager and sounder),
SSULI ultraviolet limb imager,
SSUSI ultraviolet spectrographic imager and nadir airglow photometer,
SSI/ES-3 thermal plasma instrument, and the
SSJ/5 precipitating particle spectrometer as well as the
SSF laser threat warning sensor.

The first two satellites (F15, F16) were launched on Titan-2(23)G rockets and required a Star-37XFP kick motor for orbit insertion. The later satellites (F17 -F20) switched to EELV class launch vehicles (Atlas-5(401), Delta-4M), which are capable of direct orbit insertion, so the kick motor is ommited in these satellites.

Nation:	USA
Type / Application:	Meteorology
Operator:	US Airforce
Contractors:	Lockheed Martin
Equipment:	see above
Configuration:	Tiros-N Bus
Propulsion:	Star-37XFP / ISS (#15, 16); ISS (17 - 20)
Lifetime:
Mass:	~1200 kg (#17 - #20)
Orbit:	857 km x 857 km; 99° SSO

Satellite	Date	LS	Launcher	Remarks:
DMSP-5D3 F15 (DMSP-5D3 S15, USA 147)	12.12.1999	Va SLC-4W	Titan-2(23)G Star-37XFP-ISS
DMSP-5D3 F16 (DMSP-5D3 S20, USA 172)	18.10.2003	Va SLC-4W	Titan-2(23)G Star-37XFP-ISS
DMSP-5D3 F17 (DMSP-5D3 S17, USA 191)	04.11.2006	Va SLC-6	Delta-4M
DMSP-5D3 F18 (DMSP-5D3 S18, USA 210)	18.10.2009	Va SLC-3E	Atlas-5(401)
DMSP-5D3 F19	2011	Va	EELV-M (Atlas-5(401) or Delta-4M)	with DSX
DMSP-5D3 F20	2013	Va	EELV-M (Atlas-5(401) or Delta-4M)

Further DMSP missions: