Satellite Data System

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American military satellite communication system

title: "Satellite Data System" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["communications-satellites", "hughes-aircraft-company", "military-satellites"] description: "American military satellite communication system" topic_path: "history/military" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_Data_System" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American military satellite communication system ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/SDS3_const.png" caption="The current SDS-3 constellation, consisting of three [[Molniya orbit]] type and two geostationary satellites"] ::

The Satellite Data System (SDS) is a system of United States military communications satellites. At least three generations have been used: SDS-1 from 1976 to 1987; SDS-2 from 1989 to 1996; SDS-3 from 1998 to the present. It is believed that these satellites were known by the code name Quasar. The first generation was named simply 'SDS', the second generation was named 'Quasar' and the third generation each had their own designations.

Orbital characteristics

SDS satellites have a highly elliptical orbit, going from about 300 kilometers at perigee to roughly 39,000 km at apogee in order to allow communications with polar stations that cannot contact geosynchronous satellites. The high apogee meant that the polar regions were visible for long amounts of time, and only two satellites were required in order to achieve constant communications ability. In addition, two geostationary satellites appear to be part of the system. The SDS satellites were constructed by Hughes Aircraft Company.

Mission

The primary purpose of the SDS satellites is to relay imagery from low-flying reconnaissance satellites, notably the Keyhole optical reconnaissance and Lacrosse/Onyx radar reconnaissance satellites to ground stations in the United States.

SDS-1

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/NRO_comm_satellite.PNG" caption="Releasable Picture of NRO satellite, possible SDS-1"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bd/USA179_SDS_3_4.jpg" caption="The SDS 3-4 satellite (USA 179, 2004-034A) created a tiny trail perpendicular to the star trails in this 10 second exposure with a Zeiss Sonnar MC 2.8/180mm lens made by amateur satellite observer Marco Langbroek."] ::

Each SDS-1 satellite had 12 channels available for Ultra high frequency (UHF) communication. They were cylindrical in shape, roughly 25 ft long. 980 watts of electrical power were available from solar panels and batteries. The SDS-1 had a mass of 630 kg and was launched on Titan-3B rockets. The SDS-1 satellites had similar orbits to the Air Force's Jumpseat ELINT satellites.

The partial declassification of JUMPSEAT in late 2025 revealed that USA-21, which had been previously attributed to SDS block 1, was the final JUMPSEAT launch.

It has been speculated that the early satellites served as data relays for the first KH-11 Kennen reconnaissance satellites.

SDS-2

The SDS-2 is significantly more massive at 2335 kg, with three separate communication dishes, including one for a K-band downlink. Two dishes are 4.5 m in diameter, while the third is 2 m in diameter. The solar arrays generate 1238 watts of power. It is believed that the Space Shuttle has been used to launch several satellites, possibly on missions STS-28, STS-38, and STS-53. Other launches have used the Titan IV launch vehicle.

Satellites

::data[format=table] | Name | COSPAR ID SATCAT № | Launch date | Launch vehicle | Launch site | Launch designation | Perigee | Apogee | Inclination | Remarks | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | | | | | | | | | | | | OPS 7837 | 1976-050A 08871 | 2 June 1976 | Titan III(34)B | VAFB, SLC-4W | SDS F-1 | 380 km | 39315 km | 63.3 deg | | | OPS 7940 | 1976-080A 09270 | 6 August 1976 | Titan III(34)B | VAFB, SLC-4W | SDS F-2 | 380 km | 39315 km | 63.3 deg | | | OPS 7310 | 1978-075A 10993 | 5 August 1978 | Titan III(34)B | VAFB, SLC-4W | SDS F-3 | 380 km | 39315 km | 63.3 deg | | | OPS 5805 | 1980-100A 12093 | 13 December 1980 | Titan III(34)B | VAFB, SLC-4W | | | | | | | USA-4 | 1984-091A 15226 | 28 August 1984 | Titan III(34)B | VAFB, SLC-4W | SDS F-5A | | | | | | USA-9 | 195-014A 15546 | 8 February 1985 | Titan III(34)B | VAFB, SLC-4W | USA-9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | USA-40 | 1989-061B 20167 | 2 June 1989 | STS-28/Orbus-21S | KSC, LC-39B | N/A | | | | | | USA-67 | 1990-097B 20963 | 15 November 1990 | STS-38/Orbus-21S | KSC, LC-39A | | | | Geosynchronous satellite, deployed along with Prowler and initially misidentified as a Magnum SIGINT spacecraft | | | USA-89 | 1992-086B 22518 | 2 December 1992 | STS-53/Orbus-21S | KSC, LC-39A | | | | | | | USA-125 | 1996-038A 23945 | 3 July 1996 | Titan IV(405)A | CCAFS, LC-40 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | USA-137 | 1998-005A 25148 | 29 January 1998 | Atlas IIA | CCAFS, SLC-36A | NROL-5 | | | | Capricorn, Molniya orbit | | USA-155 | 2000-080A 26635 | 6 December 2000 | Atlas IIAS | CCAFS, SLC-36A | NROL-10 | | | | Great Bear, geosynchronous satellite at 10° West | | USA-162 | 2001-046A 26948 | 11 October 2001 | Atlas IIAS | CCAFS, SLC-36B | NROL-12 | | | | Aquila, geosynchronous satellite at 144° West | | USA-179 | 2004-034A 28384 | 31 August 2004 | Atlas IIAS | CCAFS, SLC-36A | NROL-1 | | | | Nemesis, Molniya orbit, final Atlas II launch | | USA-198 | 2007-060A 32378 | 10 December 2007 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS, SLC-41 | NROL-24 | | | | Scorpius, Molniya orbit | | USA-227 | 2011-011A 37377 | 11 March 2011 | Delta IV-M+(4,2) | CCAFS, SLC-37B | NROL-27 | | | | Gryphon, geosynchronous satellite at 10° West, replaced USA-155 | | USA-236 | 2012-033A 38466 | 20 June 2012 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS, SLC-41 | NROL-38 | | | | Drake, geosynchronous satellite at 144° West, replacement for USA-162 | | USA-252 | 2014-027A 39751 | 22 May 2014 | Atlas V 401 | CCAFS, SLC-41 | NROL-33 | | | | Geosynchronous satellite | | USA-269 | 41724 | 28 July 2016 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS SLC-41 | NROL-61 | | | | Spike, Geosynchronous orbit, might be a new generation | | USA-279 | 42973 | 15 October 2017 | Atlas V 421 | CCAFS, SLC-41 | NROL-52 | | | | Likely Geosynchronous orbit | ::

References

References

  1. [http://planet4589.org/nro/nro.html Jonathan's Space Report: ''NRO Satellite Names'']
  2. [http://planet4589.org/space/log/satcat.txt Jonathan's Space Report: ''Satellite Catalogue'']
  3. Richelson, J.T.. (2001). "The Wizards of Langley. Inside the CIA's Directorate of Science and Technology". Westview Press.
  4. [http://www.zianet.com/jpage/black/NRO%20Brochure.pdf National Reconnaissance Office: "NRO Brochure circa 1997"]{{dead link. (December 2017)
  5. (December 4, 2025). "Limited Declassification of JUMPSEAT as a Signals Collection Satellites". [[National Reconnaissance Office]].
  6. Day, Dwayne A.. (26 February 2018). "Shadow dancing: the Satellite Data System". The Space Review.
  7. [http://planet4589.org/space/log/ Jonathan's Space Report: ''List of satellite launches'']
  8. (July 30, 2016). "NROL-61 satellite launched Thursday spotted in space by sky-watchers". Spaceflight Now.
  9. Graham, William. (October 15, 2017). "Atlas V finally launches with NROL-52". NASASpaceFlight.com.

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