The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) has been collecting weather data for U.S. military operations for more than two decades.

At all times, two operational DMSP Block 5D-2 satellites are in polar orbits at about 458 nautical miles (nominal). The primary weather sensor on DMSP is the Operational Linescan System which provides continuous visual and infrared imagery of cloud cover over an area 1,600 nautical miles wide. Additional satellite sensors measure atmospheric vertical profiles of moisture and temperature. Military weather forecasters use these data to monitor and predict regional and global weather patterns, including the presence of severe thunderstorms, hurricanes, and typhoons.

Features

The DMSP satellites also measure local charged particles and electromagnetic fields to assess the impact of the ionosphere on ballistic-missile early warning radar systems and long-range communications. Additionally, these data are used to monitor global auroral activity and to predict the effects of the space environment on military satellite operations.

Tracking stations at New Boston Air Force Station, N.H.; Thule Air Base, Greenland, and Kaena Point, Hawaii, receive DMSP data and electronically transfer them to two military weather centers – one at Offutt AFB, Neb., and the other at Monterey, Calif. Field and sea units with special equipment can also receive data directly from the satellites.

The Block 5D-2 is the current generation of DMSP vehicle. Block 5D-3, with a projected first launch in 1999, will provide increased capabilities, including improved sensors and a longer life span.

In May 1994, the President directed the Departments of Defense and Commerce to converge their separate polar orbiting weather satellite programs. DMSP, operated under a tri-agency organization (DoC, DOD, and NASA), will continue to provide essential environmental sensing data to the warfighter.

A convergence effort of military and civilian weather satellites has formed a single, conveyed national environmental satellite system. The command, control and communications for DOD existing satellites has been combined with the control for DoCs satellites. In June 1998, DoC took over the primary responsibility for flying both satellites until the converged systems are ready for launch during the 2007-2010 timeframe.

A joint-operational team at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminstration, Suitland, Md., provides command and control. Air Force Materiel Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., is responsible for development and acquisition of DMSP systems.

DMSP-5D1 launchlist:

DMSP-5D2 launchlist:

DMSP-5D3

• DMSP-5D3 (Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Block 5D3) is the eleventh and most recent version of the military meteorological satellites of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program.
• This series introduced a improved version of the DMSP-5D2 3-axis stabilized bus with integrated propulsion system, so that the satellite itself acted as an upper stage for the launch vehicle. It consisted of a single Star-37XFP motor and the ISS (Integrated Stage System) control system featuring four axial hydrazine thrusters. Power was supplied by a single, articulated 8-segmented solar array.
• The first two satellites (F15, F16) were launched on Titan-2(23)G rockets and required a Star-37XFP kick motor for orbit insertion. The later satellites (F17 -F20) switched to more powerful EELV class launch vehicles (Atlas-5(401), Delta-4M), which are capable of direct orbit insertion, so the solid fuel kick motor is ommited in these satellites.
• Instruments on this series are:
  • OLS (Operational Linescan System) weather imager
  • SSMIS (microwave imager and sounder)
  • SSULI ultraviolet limb imager
  • SSUSI ultraviolet spectrographic imager and nadir airglow photometer
  • SSI/ES-3 thermal plasma instrument
  • SSJ/5 precipitating particle spectrometer
  • SSF laser threat warning sensor
• Following instruments are on the individual satellites:
  • DMSP-5D3 F-15: OLS, SSM/I, SSJ/4, SSI/ES-2, SSM-Boom, SSZ
  • DMSP-5D3 F-16: OLS, SSMIS, SSI/ES-3, SSJ5, SSM-Boom, SSULI, SSUSI, SSF
  • DMSP-5D3 F-17: OLS, SSMIS, SSI/ES-3, SSJ5, SSM-Boom, SSULI, SSUSI, SSF
  • DMSP-5D3 F-18: OLS, SSMIS, SSI/ES-3, SSJ5, SSM-Boom, SSULI, SSUSI, SSF
  • DMSP-5D3 F-19: OLS, SSMIS, SSI/ES-3, SSJ5, SSM-Boom, SSULI, SSUSI, SSF
  • DMSP-5D3 F-20: OLS, SSMIS, SSI/ES-3, SSJ5, SSM-Boom, SSULI, SSUSI, SSF

External links:

• NRO: A History of the Military Polar Orbiting Meteorological Satellite Program