Milstar

Milstar (originally an acronym for Military Strategic and Tactical Relay English [ Satellite], but meantime the used independently ) is a satellite communications system of the United States of America. It enables secure, bandwidth- resistant, worldwide communications and serves to secure this in crises and in war. It was developed to meet the needs of the U.S. military.

Properties

Milstar is currently the most advanced communications satellite system of the U.S. military and is manufactured by Lockheed Martin Missiles & Systems for 800 million U.S. dollars per satellite. It is a joint service system of the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force. The operational Milstar satellite constellation consists of five satellites, which were placed in a geostationary orbit around the earth in position. Each satellite weighs about 4.5 tons and has a guaranteed life of ten years.

Each Milstar satellite serves as a smart placement in space by establishing direct connections from port to port on the earth. Since the satellite actually processes the communications signal and with other Milstar satellites can communicate through cross-connections, the requirements for ground- controlled circuit are significantly reduced. The satellite establishes, maintains, reconfigures and completed required communication links required by the users. Milstar terminals provide encrypted voice, data, telex or facsimile communications. A key goal of Milstar is to provide interoperable communications to users of the armed forces of the United States.

Geographically dispersed mobile and fixed control stations provide local on the vital and permanent operation command and control for the Milstar system secure.

Satellite launches

The first Milstar satellite was shot on 7 February 1994 aboard a Titan IV rocket into orbit. The second was launched on 5 November 1995. The four satellites of the second block have a significantly increased capacity for an additional medium data rate. The third start on 30 April 1999 brought the satellite in a useless orbit. Other successful launches found on 27 February 2001, instead of January 15, 2002 and 8 April 2003.

As a follow-up system is originally known as Milstar -3 "Advanced Extremely High Frequency" system from 2008 into space.

Literature / Sources

  • USAF: Milstar Fact Sheet (English)
  • Globalsecurity.org: Milstar -1 ( English)
  • Globalsecurity.org: Milstar - 2 (English)
  • Satellite World - Geostationary UHF military satellites: MILSTAR
  • Military satellite
  • Communications satellite
  • Military Space of the United States
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