Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
00:37:00
Tuesday November 13, 1990
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The DSP Block-3 (or DSP-I) satellites represent the third generation of DSP early warning satellites, each costing approximately $180 million. These spacecraft utilize slow spinning (6 rpm) around the nadir axis to enable Earth scanning by the detector system, while zero momentum (three-axis) stabilization is achieved using a reaction wheel to counter the spacecraft spin. With four deployed solar panels, they generate roughly 1300 W of power. DSP satellites are radiation hardened and feature a classified payload, likely consisting of a telescope with a 6000-element IR array, nuclear explosion detectors, and particle detection monitors.
Geostationary Earth Orbit
1 Payload
2,386 kilograms
Agency
Martin MariettaRocket
Height: 54m
Payload to Orbit
GTO: 4,944 kg
Liftoff Thrust
14,200 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 5.1m
Stages
4
Strap-ons
2
3rd
Mission
2nd
Mission of 1990
100th
Orbital launch attempt