Free Republic

The U.S. Air Force’s Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) B8 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin has surpassed its 10-year design life of on-orbit service in providing secure and reliable communications capabilities for the warfighter. Launched from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 20, 2000, the B8 satellite is one of 14 DSCS III spacecraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems for the MILSATCOM Systems Wing at the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. The satellite is also the first of four DSCS III satellites to feature Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades that...

A Boeing Delta 4 rocket has lifted off from Cape Canaveral carrying the final DSCS communications satellite for the U.S. Air Force. Follow the rocket's climb to orbit in our mission status center.

<p>The U.S. military has at least 50 satellites supporting the war in Iraq — including highly classified radio-listening satellites and weather satellites that anybody can use.</p> <p>All were launched after the end of the first Persian Gulf war. The military's resources in space also include the 28 satellites of the Global Positioning System, as well as commercial communications and Earth resource satellites.</p>