SDS-2/Quasar
Author(s): DaveBowman2001
Release date:
The Satellite Data System is a fleet of communication relay satellites for transmitting real-time data from US spy satellites (e.g. KH-11) in Molniya-type orbits. This addon covers the four second-generation satellites launched between 1989 and 1996, each have an expected design life of 8 years. The first three were launched in one of the last military Shuttle missions in history
NOTES:
- Requires the Space Shuttle addon installed to allow the first three satellites of this addon to appear on Celestia
- Orbital data for all four satellites are semifictional as they have no TLEs recorded from CelesTrak due to their classified military nature
- Shuttle missions STS-28, STS-38, and STS-53 will be modified by this addon upon installation
A fully deployed SDS-2/Quasar satellite in orbit
| Satellite Data System (1960-2009) |
||
|---|---|---|
| Mission | Start | End |
| Second generation, 1989-1996 | ||
| Quasar 8 (USA-40) | 1989-Aug-8 | 1997? |
| SDS 2-1, launched from STS-28 (Columbia) | ||
| Quasar 9 (USA-67) | 1990-Nov-11 | 1998? |
| SDS 2-2, launched from STS-38 (Atlantis) with Prowler | ||
| Quasar 10 (USA-89) | 1992-Dec-2 | 2000? |
| SDS 2-3, launched from STS-53 (Discovery). Also the last military satellite to be deployed from a Space Shuttle | ||
| Quasar 11 (USA-125) | 1996-Jul-3 | 2004? |
| SDS 2-4, launched from a Titan IV-A rocket | ||
STS-28 (Columbia)
STS-38 (Atlantis)
STS-53 (Discovery)
Open in Celestia (Recommended) or Download
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