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Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
United States Department of Defense weather monitoring program

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) monitors meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-terrestrial physics for the United States Department of Defense. Managed by the United States Space Force with operations supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the satellites provide cloud cover imagery from polar orbits that are Sun-synchronous at an altitude of approximately 830 km. Originally classified until 1973, the mission's data ingestion, processing, and distribution will end permanently on June 30, 2025, due to funding cuts during the Trump administration, though the satellites themselves will remain in orbit.

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History

Early in 1963 The Aerospace Corporation recommended that the U.S. Air Force develop a dedicated military meterological satellite, and the Defense Department agreed.5 The main emphasis would be on cloud-cover photography, but planners expected to add more sophisticated equipment when it became available. Later, when civilian weather satellites improved their capabilities and could satisfy most military requirements, the Defense Department continued to prefer a separate system responsive to the "dynamic" needs of the military. As a result, the Air Force embarked on the first segment of what became known initially as the Defense Satellite Applications Program (DSAP), or Program 417.

During the 1960s, one of the most important projects that the United States civil space program was involved in dealt with meteorology and weather forecasting. Unbeknownst to many, the U.S. military services were also starting up a weather satellite program. This program, the DMSP, would relay important weather and climate data to the military for more effective operations. From the onset of the DMSP program, knowledge of its existence was limited to "need-to-know" personnel. The United States Congress had assigned a substantial budget towards the civil weather satellite program; if knowledge of a second military program came out, it would have been hard for the military to justify it.

Initial operations of early DMSP systems provided radio return of cloud-cover imagery for planning of U.S. high-resolution photographic reconnaissance and surveillance missions, which utilized film-return systems. DMSP satellites operated in a Sun-synchronous orbit; passing over the north and south poles, the satellite would see different strips of the Earth at the same local time each day. The DMSP satellites had periods of roughly 101.0 minutes, so they would orbit the Earth 14.3 times in 24 hours. This period combined with the Sun-synchronous orbit would have the satellite pass over the whole surface of the planet twice a day.

The images acquired were relayed to the Earth and received by two command and readout stations [when?] established at retired Nike missile sites located near Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington State and Loring Air Force Base in Maine.6 From these sites, the images were then sent to Air Force Global Weather Central (AFGWC) located at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. Images would then be processed, forming a mosaic representing the cloud patterns that were observed from the orbiting satellites. Meteorologists could then provide flight crews and other commanders with up-to-date observations for their particular missions. Further advancements enabled data to be collected in the visual spectrum, down to a half-moonlit scene. Infrared processing enabled night viewing. Other enhancements increased on-board processing; this includes multiple on-board computers and expanded power requirements.

Now in its fifth decade of service, the DMSP program has proven itself to be a valuable tool in scheduling and protecting military operations on land, at sea, and in the air. Because the Air Force weather satellite program began with the mission of providing weather data for Strategic Air Command and National Reconnaissance Office (NRO), DSAP remained classified until 17 April 1973, when Secretary of the Air Force Dr. John L. McLucas decided that the Defense Department's decision to use satellite weather data in the Vietnam conflict and to provide it to both the Commerce Department and the general scientific community warranted declassification of the DSAP mission and release of some of its performance data. In December 1973 the Defense Department changed the name to the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). On 1 June 1998, the control and maintenance of the satellites were transferred to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in order to reduce costs.7

DMSP was to be replaced by the Defense Weather Satellite System (DWSS) but that was cancelled in 2012. In 2017, the Air Force awarded a contract to build the first of the new defense weather satellites, the Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) satellite.8

Losses of satellites

2004 explosion

In 2004 the USAF weather satellite DMSP Block 5D-2 F-11 (S-12) or DMSP-11, launched in 1991 and retired in 1995, exploded in orbit with debris objects generated. It seems likely the fragmentation was due to either a battery explosion or to residual fuel in the attitude control system.910 Later, propulsion was identified as the "assessed cause" of DMSP-11 explosion.11

2015 explosion and debris field

On 3 February 2015, the 13th DMSP satellite — DMSP-F13 launched in 1995 — exploded while in a Sun-synchronous polar orbit leaving a debris field of at least 43 to 100 large fragments and more than 50,000 pieces smaller than 1 millimeter.12 The Joint Space Operations Center at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Lompoc, California is monitoring the expanding debris field, and "will issue conjunction warnings if necessary".13 The cause of the explosion was the rupturing of an onboard battery due to a design flaw (no collision with another object took place).14

2016 failure of DMSP 19 without replacement

On 11 February 2016, a power failure left both the command-and-control subsystem and its backup without the ability to reach the satellite's processor, according to the U.S. Air Force Space Command investigation released in July 2016 that also announced that DMSP 5D-3/F19 was considered to be 'lost'. The satellite's data can still be used, until it ceases pointing the sensors towards the Earth. The satellite was the most recent on-orbit, having been launched on 3 April 2014.15

The failure only left F16, F17 and F18 – all significantly past their expected 3–5 year lifespan – operational. F19's planned replacement was not carried out because Congress ordered the destruction of the already constructed F20 probe to save money by not having to pay its storage costs. It is unlikely that a new DMSP satellite would be launched before 2023; by then the three remaining satellites should no longer be operational.16

2016 explosion

In October 2016, the 12th DMSP satellite - DMSP-F12 launched in 1994 - exploded in orbit. The satellite had similar battery as the one that exploded in the DMSP-13 satellite, thus raising suspicions that DMSP-12 explosion was also caused by battery problems. At the time the cause of DMSP-12's explosion was however unknown, although a collision with another object did not seem to be the cause. Apparently, very little debris (just one trackable piece) was generated in DMSP-12 explosion. DMSP-12 was decommissioned in 2008.17

Near collision

In January 2017, the Joint Space Operations Center announced that two non-maneuverable satellites would come dangerously close, with a collision probability as high as 44%. DMSP F15 and Meteor 1-26 were considered to be the prime candidates for the encounter.18 The operations center, which announced the possible collision, didn't identify the satellites involved but third party observers determined the most likely candidates.19 The two did not collide.

NOAA 16 and 17

The NOAA-16 and NOAA-17 weather satellites were based on the same technology as DMSP satellites. NOAA-16 broke up in November 2015, and NOAA-17 disintegrated in orbit on 10 March 2021. 20

2024 explosion

The DMSP 5D-2/F14 (USA-131), launched 4 Apr 1997 and decommissioned in 2020, exploded in orbit in December 2024.2122

Launch history

DMSP was initially known as Program 35. The first successful launch of a Program 35 spacecraft used a Scout X-2 rocket lifting off from Point Arguello near Vandenberg Space Force Base on 23 August 1962.2324 This was P35-2, the earlier P35-1 launch on 24 May 1962 had failed to reach orbit.25 All five Program 35 launch attempts using Scout launch vehicle, including the two successes, were made from Vandenberg SLC-5. Other early launches were conducted using Thor-Burner launch vehicles, with Altair or Burner II upper stages. Program 35 had by this time been renamed the Data Acquisition and Processing Program, and the DAPP acronym is sometimes used for these satellites.26 Eight satellites were launched using Atlas E launch vehicles between 1982 and 1995. Three were launched aboard Titan II vehicles between 1997 and 2003. One has been launched on a Delta IV rocket.

The most recent launch of a DMSP satellite, DMSP-F19, occurred on 3 April 2014, from Vandenberg aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.27

Block 1

The DSAP-1 (Defense Satellite Application Program Block 1) satellites series, also known as P-35, was the first series of military meteorological satellites of the United States. The project designation P-698BH was used concurrently with P-35 from June 1962 and P-35 became P-417 in October 1962. The designation DMSP-1 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Block 1) was retroactively assigned to these satellites.

Block 1
NameIDNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleLaunch siteMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (degrees)StatusAlt. names
DMSP-1 F123 May 1962ScoutVa LC-D45-55Failed to orbit; 2nd stage explodedProgram 35 F-1, P-698BH F1, DSAP-1 F1
DMSP-1 F21962-039A0036923 August 1962ScoutVa LC-D45-559755769498.4Success; EOM 11 Jun 1963Program 35 F-2, P-698BH F2, DSAP-1 F2
DMSP-1 F31963-005A0053319 February 1963ScoutVa LC-D45-55Improper orbit; first DMSP with infrared systemProgram 35 F-3, P-417 F3, DSAP-1 F3
DMSP-1 F426 April 1963ScoutVa LC-D45-55Failed to orbit; 3rd stage explodedProgram 35 F-4, P-417 F4, DSAP-1 F4
DMSP-1 F527 September 1963ScoutVa LC-D45-55Failed to orbit; 3rd stage failureProgram 35 F-5, P-417 F5, DSAP-1 F5
DMSP-1 F61964-002B0073419 January 1964Thor-DM21 Agena-DVa 75-1-245-5510078580799EOM 10 July 1964Program 35 F-6, DSAP-1 F6, OPS 3367A, P-417 F6
DMSP-1 F71964-002C0073519 Jan 1964Thor-DM21 Agena-DVa 75-1-245-5510078881199EOM 17 Mar 1965Program 35 F-7, DSAP-1 F7, OPS 3367B, P-417 F7
DMSP 1 F81964-031A0081217 Jun 1964Thor-DM21 Agena-DVa 75-3-445-5510180981799.7EOM 16 Feb 1966Program 35 F-8, DSAP-1 F8, OPS 4467A, P-417 F8
DMSP-1 F91964-031B0081317 Jun 1964Thor-Agena DVa 75-3-445-5510181182099.7EOM 15 Oct 1965Program 35 F-9, DSAP-1 F9, OPS 4467B, P-417 F9
DMSP-1 F101965-003A0097319 Jan 1965Thor-LV2D Burner-1(1), (Thor-DSV2S MG-18)Va 4300-B645-55failed to separate from upper stageProgram 35 F-10, DSAP-1 F10, OPS 7040, P-417 F10
DMSP-1 F111965-021A0127318 Feb 1965Thor-LV2D Burner-1(1), (Thor-DSV2S MG-18)Va 4300-B645-55EOM 15 Oct 1965Program 35 F-11, DSAP-1 F11, OPS 7353, P-417 F11

Block 2

The DSAP-2 (Defense Satellite Application Program Block 2) satellites series consisted of three modified DSAP-1 satellites, retaining the shape and dimension of the earlier series, featuring improved infrared radiometers. The designation DMSP-2 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Block 2) was retroactively assigned to these satellites.

Block 2
NameIDNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleLaunch siteMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (deg)StatusAlt. name
DMSP-2 F11965-072A0158010 Sep 1965Thor-LV2D Burner-1(2), (Thor-DSV2S Altair-3)Va 4300-B67310063297198.7DSAP-2 F1, OPS 8068
DMSP-2 F26 Jan 1966Thor-LV2D Burner-1(2), (Thor-DSV2S Altair-3)Va 4300-B673Launch failedDSAP-2 F2, OPS 2394
DMSP-2 F31966-026A0212531 Mar 1966Thor-LV2D Burner-1(2), (Thor-DSV2S Altair-3)Va 4300-B6739859482098.3DSAP-2 F3, OPS 0340

Block 3

The single DSAP-3 (Defense Satellite Application Program Block 3) was a modified DSAP-2 satellite to provide experimental tactical access to weather data, for which a tactical readout station was built near Saigon. The designation DMSP-3 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Block 3) was retroactively assigned to this satellite.

Block 3
NameIDNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleLaunch siteMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (deg)StatusAlt. name
DMSP-3 F11965-038A0137720 May 1965Thor-LV2D Burner-1(2), (Thor-DSV2S Altair-3)Va 4300-B6Tactical orientation for use over VietnamDSAP-3 F1, OPS 8386

Block 4A

Block 4A
NameID/ReferenceNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (deg)StatusAlt. name
DMSP 4A 11965-003A280097319 Jan 1965Thor-Altair25097.747182298.8Decayed 13 Jul 1979; 1st use of Thor-AltairOPS-7040
DMSP 4A 21965-021A290127318 Mar 1965Thor-Altair25094.444253399.0Decayed 31 Dec 1989OPS-7353
DMSP 4A 31965-038A300137720 May 1965Thor-Altair25098.752782998.2Decayed 09 Mar 201231OPS-8386
DMSP 4A 41965-072A320158010 Sep 1965Thor-Altair250101.56391,01399.0In orbitOPS-8068
DMSP 4A 5None6 Jan 1966Thor-Altair250--------------------Failed to orbit-----
DMSP 4A 61966-026A330212530 Mar 1966Thor-Altair25099.961388398.5In orbitOPS-0340
DMSP 4A 71966-082A340241816 Sep 1966Thor-Burner II420100.468087298.8In orbit; 1st use of Burner IIOPS-6026
DMSP 4A 81967-010A35026698 Feb 1967Thor-Burner II420101.377885498.9In orbitOPS-6073
DMSP 4A 91967-080A360292023 Aug 1967Thor-Burner II420102.282287898.8In orbitOPS-7202
DMSP 4A 101967-096A370298011 Oct 1967Thor-Burner II42099.565082299.2In orbitOPS-1264

Block 5A

Block 5A
NameID/ReferenceNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (deg)StatusAlt. name
DMSP 5A 11968-042A380326623 May 1968Thor-Burner II420101.980988898.8In orbitOPS-7869
DMSP 5A 21968-092A390351023 Oct 1968Thor-Burner II420101.279283898.5In orbitOPS-4078
DMSP 5A 31969-062A400404723 Jul 1969Thor-Burner II420101.177584498.5In orbitOPS-1127
DMSP 5A 41970-012A410433111 Feb 1970Thor-Burner II420101.175985098.8In orbitOPS-0054
DMSP 5A 51970-070A42045123 Sep 1970Thor-Burner II420101.976487499.1Reentered 21 Sep 1970OPS-0203
DMSP 5A 61971-012A430495317 Feb 1971Thor-Burner II420100.675581798.3In orbitOPS-5268

Block 5B

Block 5B
NameIDNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (deg)StatusAlt. name
DMSP 5B 11971-087A0555714 Oct 1971Thor-Burner II513101.478286599.1In orbitOPS-4311
DMSP 5B 21972-018A0590324 Mar 1972Thor-Burner II513101.578786899.1In orbitOPS-5058
DMSP 5B 31972-089A062759 Nov 1972Thor-Burner II513101.479785598.8In orbitOPS-7323
DMSP 5B 41973-054A0678717 Aug 1973Thor-Burner II513101.279583998.5In orbitOPS-8364
DMSP 5B 51974-015A0721816 Mar 1974Thor-Burner IIA513101.276785999.0In orbitOPS-8579

Block 5C

Block 5C
NameIDNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (deg)StatusAlt. nameEnd of Mission
DMSP 5C 11974-063A074119 Aug 1974Thor-Burner IIA513101.579286298.7In orbitOPS-69831 Dec 1977
DMSP 5C 21975-043A0781624 May 1975Thor-Burner II513101.779788198.7In orbitOPS-622930 November 1977
DMSP 5C 31976-016A0869619 Feb 1976Thor-Burner II51389.09035598.9Decayed 19 Feb 1976OPS-5140Failed to orbit. Improper Fuel Loading

44

Block 5D

Block 5D
NameIDNORAD #Launch dateLaunch vehicleMass (kg)Period (min)Perigee (km)Apogee (km)Inclination (deg)StatusAlt. name
DMSP 5D-1/F11976-091A0941511 Sep 1976Thor-Burner II513101.380683498.6In orbit; aka AMS 1OPS-5721
DMSP 5D1/F21977-044A100335 Jun 1977Thor-Burner II513101.378985399.0In orbit; aka AMS 2OPS-5644
DMSP 5D-1/F31978-042A108201 May 1978Thor-Burner II513101.180481798.6In orbit; aka AMS 3OPS-6182
DMSP 5D-1/F41979-050A113896 Jun 1979Thor-Burner II513101.280682898.7In orbit; aka AMS 4OPS-5390
DMSP 5D-1/F5None14 July 1980Thor513--------------------Failed to orbit-----
DMSP 5D-2/F61982-118A1373621 Dec 1982Atlas E751101.281182398.7In orbit; aka AMS 5OPS-9845
DMSP 5D-2/F71983-113A1450618 Nov 1983Atlas E751101.481583298.7In orbitOPS-1294
DMSP 5D-2/F81987-053A1812320 Jun 1987Atlas E82396.8956465397.6In orbit; first to carry SSM/I microwave imaging sensor to see through cloudsUSA-26
DMSP 5D-2/F91988-006A188223 Feb 1988Atlas E823101.381582698.7In orbitUSA-29
DMSP 5D-2/F101990-105A209781 Dec 1990Atlas E823100.672984598.9Operational, but not in desired orbitUSA-68
DMSP 5D-2/F111991-082A2179828 Nov 1991Atlas E823101.983585598.9Exploded in orbit in 2004 4546USA-73
DMSP 5D-2/F121994-057A2323329 Aug 1994Atlas E830101.983985698.9Exploded in orbit in 201647USA-106
DMSP 5D-2/F131995-015A2353324 March 1995Atlas E830101.984585498.8Exploded in orbit in February 201548USA-109
DMSP 5D-2/F141997-012A247534 Apr 1997Titan 23G830101.984285598.9Decommissioned in 2020.49 Exploded in orbit in December 202450USA-131
DMSP 5D-3/F151999-067A2599112 Dec 1999Titan 23G101.883785198.9In orbit (5D-2 suite of instruments)51USA-147
DMSP 5D-3/F162003-048A2805418 Oct 2003Titan 23G101.984385398.9In orbitUSA-172
DMSP 5D-3/F172006-050A2952204 Nov 2006Delta IV10284185598.8In orbitUSA-191
DMSP 5D-3/F182009-057A3595118 Oct 2009Atlas V1200101.984385798.9In orbit.52 Included a 2.4 hour post-spacecraft mission test of cryogenic fluid management on the Centaur upper stage.53USA-210
DMSP 5D-3/F192014-015A396303 Apr 2014Atlas V101.8584085398.85F19 stopped responding to commands on 11 February 2016 due to a power failure affecting an encrypted command-and-control system. The satellite continued to report telemetry and some real-time weather data, but could no longer be commanded. The data was reported as tactical data to field units.5455 The attitude control was lost in October 2017, thus ending the mission.56 F19 has started to break apart, creating several pieces of debris.USA-249

In 2015, Congress voted to terminate the DMSP program and to scrap the DMSP 5D-3/F20 satellite, ordering the Air Force to move on to a next-generation system. The Air Force had intended to keep DMSP F20 in climate-controlled storage at a Lockheed Martin clean room in Sunnyvale, California, for a time in case it needed to be called up for launch in the coming years,57 and in the aftermath of the failure of DMSP 5D-3/F19, the USAF was reconsidering the future of DMSP-5D3 F-20. However, in late 2016, the USAF began scrapping DMSP-5D3 F-20.

See also

  • Astronomy portal
  • Solar System portal
  • Space portal
  • NPOESS - the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
  • Space debris

References

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