The Defense Satellite Communications System is a United States Space Force satellite constellation that provides the United States with military communications to support globally distributed military
Illustration of the DSCS III satellite
Artist's rendering of a Transtage deploying IDSCP satellites
Illustration of a DSCS II satellite
STS-51-J
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STS-51-J was NASA's 21st Space Shuttle mission and the maiden flight of Space Shuttle Atlantis. It launched from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on October 3, 1985, carrying a payload for the U.S. Depa
Defense Satellite Communications System
…DSCS-III satellites were launched between the early 1980s and 2003. Two satellites were launched aboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1985 during the STS-51-J flight. As of 14 September 2021, six DSCS-III satellites were still operational. DSCS operations are currently run by the 4th Space Operations Squadron…
DSCS-III satellites in Atlantis' payload bay
From left: Stewart, Hilmers, Bobko, Pailes and GrabeSpace Shuttle program← STS-51-I (20)STS-61-A (22) →
Atlantis lifting off the pad.
STS132 Atlantis undocking 2