Lockheed Martin Ships Upgraded Air Force Communications Satellite to Cape for October Launch

An Air Force
Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) spacecraft with
significant performance upgrades was shipped Saturday evening, July,
22, by prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems — Missiles &
Space Operations to Cape Canaveral Air Station, Fla., for a launch
tentatively scheduled in October.

The DSCS III B11 spacecraft, the second of four super
high-frequency communications satellites to feature Service Life
Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades, will provide improved
uninterrupted secure voice and high data rate communications to its
Department of Defense users.

This satellite, the twelfth of 14, will join 11 other DSCS
satellites currently on orbit. The two remaining DSCS III satellites
will also feature the SLEP upgrades that provide increased downlink
power, improved connectivity to its antennas and upgraded transponded
channels.

Space Systems has full responsibility for the third generation of
14 DSCS III spacecraft to include storage, launch preparation,
operations support and modifications.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems — Missiles & Space Operations,
Sunnyvale, Calif., is an operating company within Lockheed Martin
Space Systems, headquartered in Denver, Colo. It is a leading supplier
of satellites to military, civil government and commercial
communications organizations around the world. These spacecraft have
enhanced military and civilian communications; provided new, extensive
and timely weather data; studied the Earth and space; and furnished
new data for thousands of scientists studying our planet and the space
around it.

For images of the DSCS satellite, please visit the URL site at:
http://lmms.external.lmco.com/photos/military_space/def_sat_comm_sys_
dscs/def_sat_comm_sys_dscs.html

For more information about Lockheed Martin Space
Systems-Sunnyvale, see our website at http://lmms.external.lmco.com