DSCS (Defense Satellite Communications System)

DSCS is a military satellite constellation placed in geosynchronous orbit to provide high-volume, secure voice and data communications. Phases II and III were successors to the IDSCS (Initial Defense Satellite Communications System) program which began in 1966 with the launch of the first 8 satellites of this constellation. The DSCS system has been an extremely valuable asset for supporting military and government communications over the past several decades.

Related QuickLook Pages:

• DSCS II
• DSCS III

Launch Facts

Name	Int'l Desig.	Date	Site	Vehicle	Orbit	Mass(kg)
Notes
IDSCS 1	1966-053B	6/16/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 2	1966-053C	6/16/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 3	1966-053D	6/16/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 4	1966-053E	6/16/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 5	1966-053F	6/16/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 6	1966-053G	6/16/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 7	1966-053H	6/16/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS (x8)	none	8/26/66	ESMC	Titan 3C	FTO
8 satellites, each weighing 45 kg
IDSCS 8	1967-003A	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 9	1967-003B	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 10	1967-003C	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 11	1967-003D	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 12	1967-003E	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 13	1967-003F	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 14	1967-003G	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 15	1967-003H	1/18/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 16	1967-066A	7/1/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 17	1967-066B	7/1/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 18	1967-066C	7/1/67	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 19	1968-050A	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 20	1968-050B	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 21	1968-050C	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 22	1968-050D	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 23	1968-050E	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 24	1968-050F	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 25	1968-050G	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
IDSCS 26	1968-050H	6/13/68	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	45
Initial Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F1	1971-095A	11/3/71	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	520
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F2	1971-095B	11/3/71	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	520
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F3	1973-100A	12/14/73	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	566
Defense Satellite Communications System; 13 deg W
DSCS 2 F4	1973-100B	12/14/73	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	566
Defense Satellite Communications System; 175 deg E
DSCS 2 F5	1975-040A	5/20/75	ESMC	Titan 3C	LEO	566
Defense Satellite Communications System; unusable orbit
DSCS 2 F6	1975-040B	5/20/75	ESMC	Titan 3C	LEO	566
Defense Satellite Communications System; unusable orbit
DSCS 2 F7	1977-034A	5/12/77	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	565
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F8	1977-034B	5/12/77	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	565
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F10	none	3/25/78	ESMC	Titan 3C	FTO	550
Defense Satellite Communications System; destroyed by range safety; launched with DSCS F9
DSCS 2 F9	none	3/25/78	ESMC	Titan 3C	FTO	550
Defense Satellite Communications System; destroyed by range safety; launched with DSCS F10
DSCS 2 F11	1978-113A	12/14/78	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	550
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F12	1978-113B	12/14/78	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	550
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F13	1979-098A	11/21/79	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	611
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F14	1979-098B	11/21/79	ESMC	Titan 3C	GEO	611
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 2 F15	1982-106A	10/30/82	ESMC	Titan 34D IUS	GEO
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 3 F1	1982-106B	10/30/82	ESMC	Titan 34D IUS	GEO
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 3 F2 (USA 11)	1985-092C ?	10/3/85	ESMC	STS 51J	GEO
Defense Satellite Communications System; released from STS 51J 10/4/85; boosted into orbit with DSCS 3 F3 on single IUS booster
DSCS 3 F3 (USA 12)	1985-092D ?	10/3/85	ESMC	STS 51J	GEO
Defense Satellite Communications System; released from STS 51J 10/4/85; boosted into orbit with DSCS 3 F2 on single IUS booster
DSCS 2 F16 (USA 43)	1989-069A	9/4/89	ESMC	Titan 34D	GEO
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 3 F4 (USA 44)	1989-069B	9/4/89	ESMC	Titan 34D	GEO
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 3 F7 (USA 93)	1993-046A	7/19/93	ESMC	Atlas 2	GEO	2615
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 3 F8 (USA 97)	1993-074A	11/28/93	ESMC	Atlas 2	GEO	2615
Defense Satellite Communications System
DSCS 3 F9 (USA 113)	1995-038A	7/31/95	ESMC	Atlas 2A	GEO	2610
Defense Satellite Communications System