Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program ( DMSP, as originally pro- 35 and P-35 ) is an meteorological satellite program of the U.S. armed forces. It is the military equivalent of a civilian TIROS and NOAA program. How these orbiting DMSP satellites and the earth in a sun-synchronous orbit. Companies was the program from the U.S. Department of Defense and operationally from the Space and Missile Systems Center of the United States Air Force.

Since 1962, 50 satellites in eleven series ( " Blocks" ) were started. Two additional satellites are planned. A follow-up system is not yet clear, since both the developed jointly with the civilian NOAA NPOESS system and the military Defense Weather Satellite System ( DWSS ) were deleted.

The satellites of the series 1-4 were spin stabilized, while the later series had a stabilization in all three axes. The satellites of the series block - 5D did not need upper stage of the rocket, as they had a solid rocket motor as integrated drive.