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Atlas IIA/DSCS successfully launches after one-hour delay

The Atlas team overcame an hour-long delay to successfully launch an Air Force Defense Satellite Communications System payload into space aboard an Atlas IIA rocket with a Centaur upper stage at 8:46 p.m. EDT, Oct. 24, from Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla.

The $60-million launch vehicle propelled the 6,015-pound, $160-million Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space-built DSCS satellite from Complex 36, into an orbit 20,000 nautical miles above the Earth. The Centaur delivered DSCS to a transfer orbit before the spacecraft separated nearly 30 minutes into the flight.

For the next six days, the early orbit team controlled the DSCS Integrated Apogee Boost Subsystem to successfully boost the B-13 spacecraft into a geosynchronous orbit. The 5th Space Operations Squadron from Onizuka Air Station, Calif. led the early orbit team.

"This was the tenth consecutive successful launch of a DSCS III satellite, including the first launch 15 years ago. In fact, the A-1 satellite launched Oct. 30, 1982, aboard the maiden flight of Titan 34D and Inertial Upper Stage, is still operating on orbit today," said Lt. Col. Norm Albert, DSCS program manager.

In addition to the DSCS satellite, Air Force Academy cadets placed an experiment on the upper stage designed to test the Global Positioning System satellites' abilities to provide positioning data above their orbits. If it is successful, it could open the way for interplanetary mission navigation.

Weather forecasts predicted a near perfect late-October launch window with partly cloudy skies during the early evening hours. Fast-moving thunderstorms threatened the upper-half of Florida all day, but were supposed to stay well north of Cape Canaveral.

Later that day, windy conditions developed and pushed thick high-level clouds overhead. This forced a "Range is Red" for weather, eating away at the launch window for the better part of an hour.

Then, a launch vehicle system problem arose when the Atlas launch team discovered an open ground valve that allows liquid oxygen to flow into the vehicle. A Lockheed technician corrected it just minutes before resuming the count.

"This launch was a success due to the outstanding team work of everyone involved: SMC, the 3rd Space Launch Squadron, Aerospace and Lockheed Martin," said Lt. Col. John Wagner, the new Atlas program manager.

"When the liquid oxygen problem occurred, all members of the Atlas team worked side-by-side to quickly resolve the anomaly. They ensured the on-time launch of the DSCS payload into a perfect orbit.

"Everyone involved deserves credit, in particular, Capt. Don Hennen, Atlas Engineering, and Launch Integrator 1st Lt. Greg Clay, for pulling everyone together into a cohesive team," said Wagner.

Once the launch director gave the "green light," the countdown resumed.

The rocket roared to life, illuminating the evening sky as it lifted out of sight beyond a thin layer of high clouds.

DSCS is crucial for warfighters as it supports the Department of Defense, the White House, and diplomatic users with secure voice and high-data rate strategic and tactical communications.

Over the next 60 days, Space and Missle Systems Center's MILSATCOM Joint Program Office and Lockhead Martin Missles and Space worked together with the 3rd Space Operations Squadron at Falcon Air Force Base, Colo., to checkout and calibrate the satellite bus and communications payload. The Defense Information Systems Agency and the DSCS system manager does some additional testing next January before the satellite completes a drift period to its operational location in February.

This was the first Air Force payload launched on an Atlas rocket in two years. Onizuka Air Station conducted the last DSCS launch and early orbit before the station's realignment as a result of a Base Realignment and Closure Commission decision.

Falcon AFB will test the launch and early orbit operations for the last four DSCS satellites. The MILSATCOM JPO is working toward modifying these satellites to provide customers a 700-percent increase in tactical communications capacity.

The Atlas Program Office under Launch Programs manages the Atlas IIA launch vehicle, and the MILSATCOM Joint Program Office manages the DSCS satellite. Both are part of SMC.