DMSP 5D-3 F15

Defense Meteorological Satellites Program
Also called USA 147 and DMSP B5D3-1

Designation	25991 / 99067A
Launch date	12 Dec 1999 - 17:38 UT
Launch site	Va, SLC-4W
Launch vehicle	Titan-2(23)G Star-37XFP-ISS (#21)
Mission	Military: Earth Science/Meteorology
Sun-Synchronous LEO Earth orbit:
Perigee / Apogee	837 x 851 km
Eccentricity	9.70E-04
Inclination	98.9 deg
Period	101.8 min

First of the B5D3 series

Prime contractor	Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space
Platform	based on Tiros N bus
Operator	DoD/NOAA
Mass at launch	1152 kg
Dry Mass	823 kg
Basic shape
Dimension (m)
Solar array
Stabilization
DC power	900 W
Design lifetime	5 yrs - still active

Near-polar orbits; investigate Earth's environment. Problem with SSM/1 sensor to track sea ice.
Would downlink at 400.328 & 400.822 MHz

Ref.: #14, #15, #78a, #226 - update: 18.05.10