DSP 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23 (Phase 3)

 

DSP 14 [USAF]

The DSP (Defense Support Program) Block-3 (a.k.a DSP-I) satellites are the third generation of DSP early warning satellites, which cost about $ 180M per spacecraft.

The Spacecraft spins slowly (6 rpm) about the nadir axis to permit scanning of the Earth by the detector system. Zero momentum (three axis) stabilized using a reaction wheel to counter the spacecraft spin. Four solar panels deploy to generate roughly 1300 W. The DSP are radiation hardened. The payload is classified, but is probably a telescope with 6000 element IR array, nuclear explosion detectors, particle detection monitors.

DSP 23 failed less then a year after launch and was inspected by the MITEx A and MITEx B satellite in orbit.

  

Nation: USA
Type / Application: Early Warning
Operator: USAF
Contractors: TRW -> Northrop Grumman
Equipment: ?
Configuration:
Propulsion: ?
Lifetime:
Mass: 2386 kg
Orbit: GEO 

 

Satellite Date LS Launcher Remarks:
DSP 14 (DSP SVN-14, USA 39) 14.06.1989 CC LC-41 Titan-4(02)A IUS
DSP 15 (DSP SVN-15, USA 65) 13.11.1990 CC LC-41 Titan-4(02)A IUS
DSP 16 (DSP SVN-16, USA 75) 24.11.1991 CC LC-39A Shuttle [IUS] with Atlantis-F10 (STS 44)
DSP 17 (DSP SVN-17, USA 107) 22.12.1994 CC LC-40 Titan-4(02)A IUS
DSP 18 (DSP SVN-20, USA 130) 23.02.1997 CC LC-40 Titan-4(02)B IUS
DSP 19 (DSP SVN-19, USA 142) 09.04.1999 CC LC-41 f Titan-4(02)B IUS
DSP 20 (DSP SVN-18, USA 149) 08.05.2000 CC LC-40 Titan-4(02)B IUS
DSP 21 (USA 159) 06.08.2001 CC SLC-40 Titan-4(02)B IUS
DSP 22 (DSP SVN-22, USA 176) 14.02.2004 CC SLC-40 Titan-4(02)B IUS
DSP 23 (USA 197) 11.11.2007 CC SLC-37B Delta-4H
DSP 24 cancelled

  

Further DSP missions:

Last update: 27.09.2009
Contact: gunter.krebs@skyrocket.de
© Gunter Dirk Krebs