Return to selections:

D

D.....Russia, launch vehicle stage, see Block D.

D.....Russia, launch vehicle, 27,000 lbs (12,200 kg) LEO. Sheldon Name D. See SL or Proton.

D.....Roman number for 500.

D.....France, satellites, geodetic.

- D-1, 1966/02/17, Hammaguir, Diamant A, D-1A, DIAPASON.

- D-1C, 1967/02/08, Hammaguir by Diamant A, DIADEME.

- D-1D, 1967/02/15, Hammaguir, Diamant A.

- D-2A, 1971/04/15, Kourou, Diamant B.

- D-2B, 1975/09/27, Kourou, Diamant B, AURA.

- D-5B, 1975/05/17, Kourou, Diamant B, CASTOR.

- D-5A, 1975/05/17, Kourou, Diamant B, POLLUX.

First launch 1966/02/17

D.....Deutsch, German.

D. Fox DD 779.....USS D. Fox DD 779, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: GEMINI 3.

D-1.....U.S. Launch Vehicle, Scout. 408 lbs (185 kg) LEO. See Scout. First launch 1972/08/13

D-1.....Russia, launch vehicle. 44,100 lbs (20,000 kg) LEO.Sheldon Name D-1. See SL-13 or Proton, 1967/03/10

D-1-e.....Russia, launch vehicle. Sheldon Name D-1-e. See SL-12, Proton.

D-1A.....U.S., launch vehicle stage. See Centaur.

D-1A.....France, satellite, see DIAPASON.

D-1AR.....U.S., launch vehicle stage. See Centaur.

D-1C.....France, satellite, see DIADEME.

D-1T.....U.S., launch vehicle stage. See Centaur.

D-5.....U.S., launch vehicle, SLBM, Trident 2.

D2.....France, satellite. See POLAIRE.

da qi.....China, Atmosphere .

DAB.....Digital Audio Broadcasting.

DAD.....U.S. satellite, scientific. Designed to measure global density of the upper atmosphere and lower exosphere, part of the EXPLORER series. Launched at the WTR by a Scout, FTO^. First launch 1975/12/05

DaFY20-1.....China, launch vehicle motor, see YF-20.

DaFY21-1.....China, launch vehicle motor, vernier with 4 thrust chambers. Each producing thrust 2650 lbf (11.8 kN), pressure ? psi (? bar), propellant N₂O₄/UDMH.

DaFY5-1.....China, launch vehicle motor, see YF-20.

DaFY6-2.....China, launch vehicle motor, 1 system (YF-21), 4 engines (YF-20), Total thrust 665,000 lbf (2961 kN), pressure ? psi (? bar), propellant N₂ O₄/UDMH. Also known as YF-21. Used on LM-2C, LM-2E, LM-2F, LM-3A, 3B, 3C. Stage 1.

Daichi.....Japan, means mother earth.

DAICHI.....Japan, satellite, see ALSO.

Daimler Chrysler Aerospace.....Europe-U.S., aerospace company. Daimler-Benz joined with Chrysler in 1998 to form Daimler Chrysler Aerospace.

Daimler-Benz Aerospace.....Europe, aerospace company. Address: PO Box 801109, B 1663, Munich, Germany. Joined with MBB, Dornier and Fokker in early 1990s to become DASA.

DaimlerChrysler Aestus.....ESA, launch vehicle motor, see Aestus.

Dakar Station.....Senegal/U.S., organization, NASA, STDN, Spaceflight Tracking and Data Network. Dakar Station, Attn.: Station Director, Telesenegal, B.P. 69, Station de Grandoul, Dakar, Senegal, Africa. Later, Dakar-GDKR, Attn: NASA/STDN Facility, U.S. Embassy, c/o U.S. Ambassador, Manager/DKR, Dakar, Senegal.

DAPP.....U.S., satellite, see DMSP.

DARA.....German, organization, space agency. Deutche Agentur fur Raumfahrt Angelegenheiten, GmbH. Address, Konigswinterer Strasse 522-524 Bonn-Oberkasser or Postfach 300364, 53183 Bonn.

DARK UNIVERSE OBSERVER.....U.S., NASA, see DUO.

DARPA PICOSAT.....U.S., satellite, military technology development, LEO SSO. Also known as PICOSAT.

DARPASAT.....U.S. DOD, satellite, geodetic. ADVANCED RESEARCH PROGRAM AGENCY SATELLITE, experimental, carried a GPS receiver. Launched at WSMC by a Taurus. Also carried the STEP 0. First launch 1994/03/13

DARS.....Digital Audio Radio Service.

DART.....U.S., satellite, technology. Based upon the Russian Kurs antonymous docking system on the SOYUZ and PROGRESS. Computer controlled, equipped with advanced video guidance sensors and GPS. DEMONSTRATION FOR AUTONOMOUS RENDEZVOUS TECHNOLOGY. Rendezvoused with MUBLCOM 2005/04/15

DARWIN.....Europe, satellite, astronomy, planet detection, L2. First launch 2012/00/00

DASA.....Europe, aerospace company, was Daimler-Benz Aerospace until mid 1990s.

DASH.....Japan, satellite, DEMONSTRATION OF ATMOSPHERIC REENTRY SYSTEMS AND HYPERVELOCITY. Enters atmosphere at 10 km/sec. First launch 2002/02/04

DASH.....U.S., satellite, technology.

- DASH 1, 1963/05/09, WTR, Atlas Agena B, LEO.

- DASH l, 1963/07/18, WTR, Atlas Agena B, LEO.

First launch 1963/05/09

Dassault Aviation.....Europe, aerospace company, joined with Aerospatiale in 1997 to become Aerospatiale & Dassault.

DATA RELAY AND TRACKING SATELLITE.....Japan, see DRTS.

DATA RELAY TEST SATELLITE.....Japan, see DRTS.

date.....date (Fr)., datum (D).

date format.....- Australia = day, month, year.

- China = year, month, day.

- European = day, month, year.

- Great Britain, day, month, year.

- India = day, month, year.

- ISO = year, month, day

- Japan = day, month, year.

- Russia = day, month, year.

- U.S. = month, day, year.

DATS.....U.S., Air Force satellite, technology. Electronically DESPUN ANTENNA TEST SATELLITE. Launched at the ETR by a Titan IIIC. First launch 1967/07/01

datum.....German for date.

DAVID.....Israel, satellite, remote sensing.

DAVID.....Italy, satellite, communication., SSO, uses Prima bus. DATA AND VIDEO DISTRIBUTION.

Davis DD 937.....USS Davis DD 937, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: MERCURY Atlas 9.

Davis, Jan.....U.S., astronaut, STS-47, 1992/09/12, STS-60, 1994/02/03, STS-085, 1997/08/07. First launch 1992/09/12

DAWN.....U.S., satellite, scientific, solar orbit. Survey asteroid Ceres and Vesta. Vesta orbit 2011/07, Ceres orbit 2014/08, end of mission 2015/07. First launch 2006/00/00

DAY PROBE.....U.S., satellite, scientific, PIONEER VENUS 2 probes launched into the planet Venus atmospheres. Other probes include, SOUNDER PROBE, NORTH PROBE, NIGHT PROBE.

DB.....Launch vehicle propellant, double base. See Solid Propellant.

DBS.....U.S., satellite, communication, North America's DIRECT BROADCAST SATELLITE, built by U.S. Hughes, launched at Kourou by an Ariane 44L, for the U.S. Satellite Broadcasting. Renamed DIRECTV.

- DBS-1, 1993/12/18, Kourou, Ariane 44L V 62.

- DBS-2, 1994/08/30, ETR, Atlas 2A.

First launch 1993/12/18

DBS.....Direct Broadcast Satellite, type of satellite which broadcast TV directly to viewers.

DC.....Roman number for 600.

DC-X.....U.S. Delta Clipper - Experimental. U.S. attempt to develop a single stage to orbit (SSTO) launch vehicle. The launch vehicle is manufactured by McDonnell Douglas Aerospace. All launched were at WSMR.

- 1993/08/13

- 1993/09/11

- 1993/09/39

- 1993/10/18

- 1994/06/20

- 1994/06/27

- 1995/05/16

- 1995/06/12

- 1995/07/07

First launch 1993/08/13

DC-XA.....U.S., experimental launch vehicle, being developed by McDonnell Douglas. Contains a new composite liquid hydrogen tank, a Russian built aluminum-lithium liquid oxygen tank. All launched were at WSMR. Follow-on to the DC-X.

- 1996/05/18

- 1996/06/07

- 1996/00/00, destroyed

First launch 1996/05/18

DCC.....Roman number for 700.

DCCC.....Roman number for 800.

DD.....U.S., Naval Ship, destroyer.

DDG.....U.S., Naval Ship, Guided missile destroyer.

De Havilland.....Europe, aerospace company, De Havilland Aircraft Co., Ltd., Wekkin House, 10/11 Chartehouse Sq, London E.C.1^.. Became part Hawker Siddeley in 1965.

DE.....U.S., satellite, see DYNAMICS EXPLORER.

Deacon.....U.S., rocket, solid fuel test. First launch 1947/00/00

Deacon Rockoon.....U.S., rocket, balloon launched geophysical research. First launch 1952/00/00

Deal 1 RTV-7.....U.S., satellite, also known as EXPLORER 1 or Payload RTV-7.

death.....mort (Fr)., tod (D).

DEBUT.....Japan, satellite, technology. Boom/umbrella test. Renamed ORIZURU. Launched from Tanegashima by a H-1. Part of multiple launch which included MOS B, JAS 1B satellites. First launch 1990/02/07

DEC.....U.S., launch vehicle stage, Atlas double engine Centaur.

DEC.....Orbital component. See declination.

Decatur.....USS Decatur, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: MERCURY Redstone 3, MERCURY Atlas 8.

decayed.....When a satellite will enter the atmosphere by the slow reduction of its orbit. See also returned, re-entered.

declination.....Orbital component. Abbreviated DEC. The angular distance from the equator to the satellite orbit measured positive north and negative south.

DECU.....India, organization, see ISRO. Also known as Development and Education Communication Unit.

Deep Space Network.....U.S., organization. See DSP.

Deep Space Program Science Experiment.....U.S., program. See CLEMENTINE.

Deep Space Station.....U.S., organization, NASA, large radar/radio dishes for tracking and communication with deep space probes. Each Dish as a unique designation. Also known as DSS.

       The Sites at Goldstone, Madrid and Canberra are the three primary deep space sites, so-called Deep Space Communications Complexes (DSCCs). The antennas there (DSSs) are mostly actively managed for deep space mission support. Also at each DSCC is a Signal Processing Center (SPC). DSS-71 (MILA) at Merritt Island (FLA) is the DSN Launch Support Facility. The rest of DSS designators assigned to cooperative sites for book-keeping purposes - e.g. when JPL received tracking of Voyager from the Parkes observatory in Australia, the DSS-49 tag was added. Some of the primary site DSSs noted on the earlier list are retired, and inactive or used for research or teaching. There are some that are curiously not on the list, for instance the Stanford Radio Observatory antenna that we used to try to detect UHF signals from Mars 98.

       Further, the antennas have different roles. As an example, each site has on 70-meter antenna (DSS-14, DSS-63, and DSS-43), and one arrayed set of 34-meter Beam Wave Guide antennas (DSS-24, DSS-54, and DSS-34). DSS-15, DSS- 65, and DSS- 45 are 34-meter Hi Efficiency antennas. DSS-16, DSS-66, and DSS-26 are 26-meter antennas (purpose I don't know). They were originally built to track Apollo.

       DSS-12 at Goldstone (ECHO site) is used by the Apple Valley schools as a teaching instrument for radio astronomy. DSS-42 and DSS-62 are or in the process of being dismantled. The earliest of the Goldstone sites (PIONEER), is a National Historic Landmark. DSS-28 has been mothballed.

DEEP IMPACT MISSION.....U.S., NASA, satellite, scientific, heliocentric. The Deep Impact mission will send an 1100 lb (500 kg) copper projectile crashing into the surface of a comet at more than 20,000 miles per hour, creating a huge crater and revealing never before seen materials and the internal composition and structure of a comet. This will be the first experiment to probe deep beneath the surface of a comet and will permit a variety of instruments, both onboard the spacecraft and at ground-based and space-based observatories, to study the resulting debris and pristine interior material. On July 3, 2005, the spacecraft will be about 550,000 miles from Comet P/Tempel 1 when the impactor will be released. The following day the impactor will forcefully strike the sunlit side of the comet nucleus, forming a crater roughly 25 feet deep and 325 feet wide, sending material from the interior of the nucleus into space and vaporizing the projectile. Sixty seconds before impact, the spacecraft will begin recording closeup images of the comet surface and then, from a distance of 6,200 miles, will record the actual impact. At 600 seconds after impact, the spacecraft will be about 2,500 miles from the nucleus and observations of the crater will begin. The spacecraft's closest approach to the nucleus will be 435 miles. At 3,000 seconds after impact the spacecraft will begin sending impactor and flyby images back to Earth. The primary science data will be returned to Earth within 10 hours of the encounter, with a 28-day supplemental data return period. The Deep Impact mission is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corporation, Boulder, CO, is responsible for all flight hardware. First launch 2005/01/12

DEEP SPACE.....U.S. satellite, scientific, NASA's/JPL New Millennium program. Name changed to SPACE TECHNOLOGY. Also known as DS.

- DEEP SPACE 1, 1998/10/24, test technologies en route to asteroid 1992 KD, will fly by the near Earth asteroid McAuliffe in 1999/01/00 and the comet West-Kohoutek-Ikemura in 2000/06/00. Also known as SA-200HP or NEW MILLENNIUM 1..

- DEEP SPACE 2, 1999/01/03, analyze Martian subsurface soil.

- DEEP SPACE 3, 2002/00/00, test technique for flying spacecraft in formation.

- DEEP SPACE 4, 2003/00/00, land on Comet Temple 1's nucleus.

First launch 1998/10/24

DEFENCE C1.....Australia, satellite, military communication, part of OPTUS satellite. Also known as OPTUS/D1. First launch 2003/06/11

Defense Evaluation and Research Agency.....UK, organization, see DERA.

DEFENSE SATELLITE COMMUNICATION SYSTEM.....U.S., satellite. See DSCS.

DEFENSE SUPPORT PROGRAM.....U.S., satellite. See DSP.

DEFENSE SUPPORT SATELLITE.....U.S. DoD, satellite, early warning satellite, classified. Launched at KSC by STS-28. First launch 1988/12/02

DeHaven DD 727.....USS DeHaven DD 727, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: MERCURY Atlas 9, GEMINI 10.

Deimos.....Mars moon, one of 2. See also Phobos.

Dejouriv, Vladimir.....Russia, cosmonaut. See Dezhurov.

delta.....Δ, δ, delta, 4, Greek Alphabet.

Delta.....U.S., launch vehicle. Built by McDonnell Douglas and later Boeing for use by NASA and DOD. Based upon the Thor-Able, with an additional 3rd stage. In the original Thor, the stage 2 was known as Delta, (in 1960) which developed from the upper stages of the Vanguard which originally were derived from the Aerobee sounding rockets. Through 2003, 302 Deltas have been launched.

Delta ####

U.S., launch vehicle. Four digit designation. Delta

- Delta, 3 stage launch vehicle (1) Modified Thor, (2 & 3) Vanguard propulsion system, GTO 100 lbs (45 kg). . Stage 1, MB-3 Block 1 (XLR-79N A 7) engine. Stage 2, AJ10-118 engine. Stage 3, X-248A5 motor. . First launch 1960/05/13.

- Delta A, Engine replaced. Stage 1, MB-3 Block 2. GTO 150 lbs (68 kg). Delta II DoD designation SB-3 A/B. First launch 1962/10/02

- Delta B, Tanks lengthened, higher energy oxidizer, GTO 150 lbs (68 kg). Also known as DSV-3A. First launch 1962/12/13

- Delta C. Stage 3 replaced with scout motor, GTO 180 lbs, (82 kg). First launch 1964/10/03

- Delta D, Added 3 Castor I solid rocket motors to booster to become 0th stage. (Delta now a 4 stage launch vehicle with stage 0 and 1 operating simultaneously) GTO 230 lbs, (104 kg). First launch 1964/08/19

- Delta E, Caster II, upgraded upper stage motors, tanks widened, GTO 330 lbs (150 kg). Also known as DSV-3E or TAID. First launch 1965/11/06

- Delta J, Upgraded stage 3, GTO 580 lbs, (263 kg). First launch 1968/07/04

- Delta L, Tanks lengthened and widened. Stage 3, FW-4 engine, GTO 785 lbs (356 kg). First launch 1969/08/27

- Delta M, Thiokol TE-364-3 motor for the 3rd stage, GTO 785 lbs (356 kg). First launch 1968/12/18

- Delta N, No 3rd stage, GTO 785 lbs (356 kg). First launch 1968/12/15

- Delta M-6, 6 Caster II used, GTO 1000 lbs (454 kg). First launch 1970/12/11

- Delta N-6, 6 Caster II used, no 3rd stage, GTO 1000 lbs (454 kg). First launch 1970/01/23

- Delta 900, 9 Castor II used, stage 2 engine change. First launch 1972/07/23

- Delta/Delta II ####, Four digit designation. First launch 1972/09/22

1st Digit (1st Stage)

- 0 - Castor II, Long Tank, MB-3 Engine

- 1 - Castor II, Extended long Tank, MR-3 Engine

- 2 - Castor II, Extended Long Tank, RS-27 Engine

- 3 - Castor IV, Extended long Tank, RS-27 Engine

- 4 - Castor IVA, Extended Long Tank, MB-3 Engine

- 5 - Castor IVA, Extended Long tank, RS-27 Engine

- 6 - Castor IVA, Extra Extended Long Tank, RS-27 Engine

- 7 - Graphite Epoxy Motors (GEM-40) replace Castor, Extra Extended Long Tank, RS-27A

- 8 - Delta III Shortened first stage, RS-27A engine, GEM-46

2nd Digit (0th Stage)

- 3 - Three Augmentation solid rocket motors

- 6 - Six Augmentation solid rocket motors

- 9 - Nine Augmentation solid rocket motors

3rd Digit (2nd Stage)

0 - AJ10-118 (Aerojet)

1 - TR-201 (TRW)

2 - AJ10-118k (Aerojet)

3 - RL10B-2 (Pratt & Witney)

4th Digit (3rd stage)

0 - No 3rd stage

3 - TE-364-3

4 - TE-364-4

5 - PAM-D Derivative (STAR 48B)

6 Star 37FM

       Dash Number (Fairing type optional)

-8 - 8 ft fairing

-10 - 10 ft composite fairing

-10L - Stretched composite fairing

- Delta 2914, GTO 1593 lbs (724 kg). First launch 1974/08/13

- Delta 3914, GTO 2100 lbs (954 kg). First launch 1975/12/12

- Delta 3910/PAM, GTO 2544 lbs (1154 kg). First launch 1980/02/14

- Delta 3920/PAM, GTO 2800 lbs (1270 kg). First launch 1982/07/16

- Delta 4925, GTO 2800 lbs (1270 kg). First launch 1989/08/27

- Delta 5920, GTO 3000 lbs (2800 kg). First launch 1989/11/18

- Delta 6925, GTO 2190 lbs (1447 kg). Stage 1, RS-27 engine with 2 LR101-NA-11 vernier engies. Also known as - Delta II or - Delta 2. First launch 1989/02/14

- Delta 7326, GTO 2040 lbs (927 kg). Stage 0, strap-on 3 GEM-40 motors. Stage 1, RS-27A engine. Stage 2, AJ10-118K. Stage 3, Star 37FM motor. First launch 1998/10/24.

- Delta 7425, GTO 2510 lbs (1141 kg). Stage 0, strap-on 4 GEM-40 motors. Stage 1, RS-27A engine. Stage 2, AJ10-118K. Stage 3, Star 48B motor. First launch 1998/2/14.

- Delta 7925, GTO 4010 lbs (1820 kg). Stage 0, strap-on 9 GEM-40 motors. Stage 1, RS-27A engine. Stage 2, AJ10-118K. Stage 3, Star 48B motor First launch 1989/2/14

- Delta 7925H, GTO 4810 lbs (2816 kg). Stage 0, strap-on 9 GEM-46 motors. Stage 1, RS-27A engine. Stage 2, AJ10-118K. Stage 3, Star 48B motor First launch 2002/7/00

- Delta 3/6 GEMs, GEO 5900 lbs (2690 kg). First launch 1999/00/00

- Delta 3/9 GEMs, LEO 8400 lbs (3818 kg). Stage 0, strap-on 9 GEM-46 motors. Stage 1, RS-27A engine. Stage 2, RL10-2. First launch 1998/08/26

- Delta 4, also known as Boeing MDO-EELV (McDonald Douglas Expanded extended launch vehicle) designation. Stage 1, RS-68 engine. Stage 2, RL10B-2 engine.

First letter;

M+, medium plus launch vehicle

       First digit

Payload fairing (PLF) diameter in meters.

       Second digit

Number fo graphite-epoxy motors (GEM-60)

- Delta 4S (small or light) LEO 12500 lbs (5680 kg).

- Delta 4M (medium) GTO 9400 lbs (4272 kg).

- Delta 4 medium plus, GTO 12,700 lbs (5700 kg), also known as M+ 4,2,2 SRM. Stage 0, 2 GEM-60 motors. Stage 1, RS-68 engine. Stage 2RL10B-2 engine.

- Delta 4 medium plus, GTO 10,700 lbs (4800 kg), also known as M+ 5,2,2 SRM.

- Delta 4M+ (5,4), GTO 14490 lbs (6586 kg).

- Delta 4H,GTO 29350 lbs (13342 kg). Stage 0, 2 RS-68 engines. Stage 1, RS-68 engine. Stage 2, RL10B-2 engine.

First launch 1972/09/22

Delta 2.....U.S. launch vehicle. See Delta 6925

Delta 4 heavy.....U.S., launch vehicle. See Delta.

Delta 4 medium plus.....U.S., launch vehicle. GRO 14,700 lbs (6600 kg), also known as M+ 5,4,4 SRM.

Delta 900.....U.S. launch vehicle, 9 Castor II used, stage 2 engine change. First launch 1972/07/23

Delta A.....U.S. launch vehicle, Engine replaced GTO 150 lbs (68 kg). First launch 1962/10/02

Delta B.....U.S. launch vehicle, Tanks lengthened, higher energy oxidizer, GTO 150 lbs (68 kg). First launch 1962/12/13

Delta C.....U.S. launch vehicle. Stage 3 replaced with scout motor, GTO 180 lbs, (82 kg). First launch 1964/10/03

Delta Clipper.....U.S., rocket. See DC-X.

Delta D.....U.S. launch vehicle, Added 3 Castor I solid rocket motors to booster to become 0th stage. (Delta now a 4 stage rocket with stage 0 and 1 operating simultaneously) GTO 230 lbs, (104 kg). First launch 1964/08/19

Delta E.....U.S. launch vehicle, Caster II, upgraded upper stage motors, tanks widened, GTO 330 lbs (150 kg). First launch 1965/11/06

Delta II.....U.S., launch vehicle, LEO. See Delta 6925. First launch 1989/02/14

Delta IV.....See Delta 4.

Delta J.....U.S. launch vehicle, Upgraded stage 3, GTO 580 lbs, (263 kg). First launch 1968/07/04

Delta L.....U.S. launch vehicle, Tanks lengthened and widened. Stage 3 FW-4 engine, GTO 785 lbs (356 kg). First launch 1969/08/27

Delta M.....U.S. launch vehicle, Thiokol TE-364-3 motor for the 3rd stage, GTO 785 lbs (356 kg). First launch 1968/12/18

Delta M-6.....U.S. launch vehicle, 6 Caster II used, GTO 1000 lbs (454 kg). First launch 1970/12/11

Delta N.....U.S. launch vehicle, No 3rd stage, GTO 785 lbs (356 kg). First launch 1968/12/15

Delta N-6.....U.S. launch vehicle, 6 Caster II used, no 3rd stage, GTO 1000 lbs (454 kg). First launch 1970/01/23

DELTA STAR.....U.S., satellite, intelligence, renamed USA 36. First launch 1989/03/24

DEM.....U.S., satellite, scientific. Also known as EXPLORER 31, DME, or DMEA. Launched at Vandenberg on a Thor Agena B, HEO. First launch 1965/11/29

Demeter.....Greece, goddess of fertility.

DEMETER.....France, CNES, satellite, microsatellite, scientific. First launch 2004/06/29

Demin, Lev.....Russia, cosmonaut, SOYUZ 15, 1974/08/26. First launch 1974/08/26

DEMONSTRATION FOR AUTONOMOUS RENDEZVOUS TECHNOLOGY......U.S., satellite, see DART.

DEMONSTRATION OF ATMOSPHERIC REENTRY SYSTEMS AND HYPERVELOCITY.....Japan, satellite. See DASH

DEMONSTRATION SATELLITE.....U.S., satellite, see DEMOSAT.

DEMOSAT.....U.S., satellite, DEMONSTRATION SATELLITE. First launch 1999/03/28

Denmark.....Country. Member of ESA.

denpa.....Japan, Radio Wave.

DENPA.....Japan, satellite, scientific. Investigated ionospheric phenomena. Also known as REXS or SS-02. Launched at Kagoshima by a Mu 4S. First launch 1972/08/19

départ.....French for start.

Departamento de Pesquisas y Desenvolvimento.....Brasil, organization, controls the Alcantara space vehicle launch facility. Address: Esplanada dos Ministérios-Bloco M, Edifício Anexo do Maer, 3^o Andar, 70.045-900-Brasília-DF, Brasil.

Department of Space.....India, organization, also known as DOS, Department of Space, under Prime ministers office. Contains the following departments.

- National Remote Sensing Agency.

- Physical Research Laboratory

- National Mesophere-Stratosphere-Troposphere Radar Facility.

- Antrix Corporation

- ISRO.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE.....U.S., satellite. See DMSP.

DERA.....UK, organization, Defense Evaluation and Research Agency, Space Department

Farnborough, Hants GU14 6TD. Tel + 44 (0) 1252 392278, Fax + 44 (0) 1252 398898

Descartes.....Moon, space vehicle launch site, for APOLLO I6, ORION. First launch 1972/04/23

descending node.....Orbital component. The point on the equatorial plane where orbiting satellites pass from north latitude to south latitude.

DESERSAT.....Italy & Egypt, satellite, earth observation.

Design designation.....Russia, also known as article number. See Russia spacecraft and launch vehicle designation.

Designation.....See;

- DoD Designation

- Satellite

- Systems, project, AFP, WS, OS, RS

- Rocket Motors

- Satellite Designation, LR, SR, LSR

- Russia Spacecraft and Launch Vehicle Designation.

- Sheldon Name

- USA Satellite Designation.

       - NATO Designation

Despina.....Neptune moon, one of 8. See Triton, Naiad, Thalassa, Nereid, Despina, Galatea, Larissa, Proteus.

DESTINY.....U.S., satellite, ISS module, LEO, STS-098, 2001-006B. First launch 2001/02/07

DESTINY.....Philippines & Taiwan, satellite, communications, GEO.

Deutche Agentur fur Raumfahrt Angelegenheiten.....Germany, organization. See DARA.

Deutsche Telekom AG.....German, aerospace company, satellite communications, EUROBIRD. Address: Moltkestrasse 14, Bonn-Bad Godesbert, 53173. www.telekom.de

Development and Education Communication Unit.....India, organization, see ISRO. Also known as DECU.

Dewey DLG 14.....USS Dewey DLG 14, recovery ship, part of the fleet which recovered or was on duty and capable of recovering the following: MERCURY Atlas 7.

Dezhurov, Vladimir.....Russia, cosmonaut, SOYUZ TM 21, 1995/03/14, STS-105 & Expedition 3,2001/8/10. First launch 1995/03/14

DFH.....China, satellite. See DONG FANG HONG.

DFH-3.....China, satellite bus, CAST.

DFH-4.....China, satellite bus.

DFRC.....U.S., organization, NASA. See Dryden Flight Research Center, PO Box 273, Edwards AFB, CA 93523.

DFS.....U.S.,satellite, technology. DEVELOPMENT FLIGHT SATELLITE. See MILSTAR.

DFS KOPERNICUS.....German, satellites, communications. DEUTSCHER FERNMELDE SATELLIT KOPERNICUS,

- DFS-1, 1989/06/05, Kourou, Ariane 44L V 31.

- DFS-2, 1990/07/24, Kourou, Ariane 4 V 37.

- DFS-3, 1992/10/12, ETR, Delta.

First launch 1989/06/05

diadem.....France, diamond, element, crystalline form of carbon, atomic number 6, used as a gem.

DIADEME.....France, satellite, geodetic. Launched at Hammaguir by a Diamant. Also known as D-1C. First launch 1967/02/08

DIAL.....French and Germany, satellite. See DIAL-WIKA.

DIAL WISSENSCHAFTLICHE KAPSEL.....French and Germany, satellite, see DIAL-WIKA.

DIAL-WIKA.....French and Germany, satellite, scientific, high atmospheric study. DIAL WISSENSCHAFTLICHE KAPSEL. Launched at Kourou by a Diamant B. First launch 1970/03/10

Diamant.....France, diamond.

Diamant.....France, launch vehicle, LEO, used to launch the first French satellite from the Sahara Desert. Diamant is French for diamond.

- Diamant A, 175 lb (80 kg) LEO, Hammaguir, Algeria. Stage 1 Emeraude with a LRBA Vexin engine. Stage 2, Topaze. Stage 3, Rubis PO.64 engine. First launch 1965/11/26

- Diamant B, 253 lbs (115 kg) LEO, Kourou. Stage 1, Stretched Emeraude known as Améthyste with a Valios engine. Stage 2, Topaze. Stage 3, Europa II Perigee System with a PO.68 rocket motor. First launch 1970/10/10

- Diamant B-P4, 440 lbs (200 kg) LEO, Kourou. Stage 1, Stretched Emeraude known as Améthyste with a Valios engine. Stage 2, Rita I with a P4 engine. Stage 3, Europa II Perigee System with a PO.68 rocket motor. First launch 1975/02/06

First launch 1965/11/26

Diamant A.....France, launch vehicle, 175 lb (80 kg) LEO, Hammaguir, Algeria. First launch 1965/11/26

Diamant B.....France, launch vehicle, 253 lbs (115 kg) LEO, Kourou. First launch 1970/10/10

Diamant B-P4.....France, launch vehicle, 440 lbs (200 kg) LEO, Kourou. First launch 1975/02/06

Diameter of planet.....See planet.

DIAMOND.....Russia, satellite, manned. See VOSKHOD 2.

Diana.....Roman, moon goddess.

DIAPASON.....France, satellite, geodesy. Also known as D-1A. See D. Launched at Hammaguir by a Diamant. First launch 1966/02/17

DIFFUSE X-RAY SPECTROMETER.....U.S., satellite. See DXS.

Digital Audio Radio Service......Digital radio signals from a satellite to the special radio.

DigitalGlobe.....Earth imaging, QUICKBIRD. Address: 1900 Pike Rd., Longmont, CO 80501-6700, USA. www.digitalglobe.com. Was EarthWatch.

Dione.....Saturn moon, one of 19. See Prometheus, Pandora, Atlas, Epimetheus, Janus, Mimas, Helene, Enceladus, Tethys, Calypso, Telesto, Dione, Pan, 1995-S4, Rhea, Titan, Hyperion, Laptus, Phoebe.

Dionysus.....Greece, goddess of fertility.

dippelt.....German for double.

Direct to Home.....See DTH.

DIRECT BROADCAST SATELLITES.....U.S. satellite. See DBS.

DIRECT TELEVISION SATELLITE.....U.S. Satellite. See DIRECTV.

DIRECT TV.....Thailand, satellite, communications. DIRECT TV satellite, also known as THAICOM for THAI COMMUNICATION. Launched at Kourou by the Ariane 44L. First launch 1993/12/17

DIRECTV.....U.S., satellite, communications. Direct Television Satellite, GEO, Hughes led. Hughes is now part of Boeing. Was DBS. See TEMPO SATELLITE. First launch 2002/05/07

DIRECTV, Inc......U.S., aerospace company, commercial satellite communications, DIRECTV. Address: 2230 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, CA 90245, USA. www.directv.com

DISASTER MONITORING CONSTELLATION.....UK, satellite, communications, built by SSTL. A blobal cluster of micro-satellites with medium resolution wide swath imagery. Also known as DMC. First launch

DISCOVERER.....U.S. DoD, satellite, reconnaissance. The DISCOVERER series of satellites was the first major U.S. military satellite program and a cover for the CIA Corona spy satellites. The spacecraft were extremely valuable in the development of film return type reconnaissance satellites. They were launched from the U.S. Air Force's Western Space and Missile Center at Vandenberg AFB with Thor Agena launch vehicles. 38 spacecraft were in the Discoverer series. Similar satellites were launched subsequent to Discoverer 38 in 1962, but after this year military launches were classified. There were no more spacecraft with the official Discoverer designation. The life span of the satellites were less than a month. Many of the film canisters were captured in the air after returning to earth through the atmosphere. The first satellite to be placed in a polar orbit was DISCOVERER 01.. First launch 1959/02/28

DISCOVERER-2.....U.S., DOD, satellite, surveillance, space based radar, 1 foot resolution.

Discovery.....U.S. U.S. Launch vehicle stage. Manned Spacecraft Space Shuttle, OV-103. Used on STS. First launch 1984/08/30

Discovery Program.....U.S. NASA, program. NASA's Discovery Program gives scientists the opportunity to dig deep into their imaginations and find innovative ways to unlock the mysteries of the universe. The program's prime objective is to enhance the understanding of the solar system, both historically and as it is today, by exploring the planets, their moons and other small bodies. The goal is to launch many, smaller Missions that perform focused science with fast turnaround times with a cost for the entire mission of less than $299 million. The intent is to have a mission launch every 12 to 24 months. According to NASA, “In response, the space science community has formulated the following Fundamental Questions, which lie at the core of gaining this understanding:

- How did the universe, galaxies, stars and planets evolve?

- How can our exploration of the universe and our solar system revolutionize our understanding of physics, chemistry and biology?

- Does life in any form exist elsewhere than on planet Earth?

- Are there Earth-like planets beyond our solar system?

- How can we utilize knowledge of the Sun, Earth and other planetary bodies to improve the quality of life on Earth? What cutting edge technologies must we develop to conduct our research in the most productive, economical and timely manner? “

Eight Missions have been chosen for the Discovery Program to date. The following I've have been launched:

- Discovery-1 NEAR: 1996-008A, 1996/2/17

- Discovery-2 MARS PATHFINDER: 1996-0068A,1996/12/04,

- Discovery-3 LUNAR PROSPECTOR:1998-001A, 1998/01/06,

- Discovery-4 STARDUST;1999-003A, 1999/02/07,

- Discovery-5 GENESIS, 2001-034A, 2001/08/08.

- Discovery-6 CONTOUR, 2002-034A, 2002/07/03,

- Discovery-7 MESSENGER, 2004-030A, 2004/08/03

- Discovery-8 DEEP IMPACT MISSION, 2005-01A 2005/01/12

The following are to be launched:

- Discovery-9 DAWN

- Discovery-10 KEPLER

First launch 1996/02/17

DISCOVERY.....U.S., satellite, manned spacecraft Space Shuttle, OV-103. First launch 1984/08/30

DISCOVERY.....U.S., satellite, scientific. Part of the Discovery Program. DISCOVERY 1 also known as NEAR.

DISTURBANCE REDUCTION SYSTEM.....U.S., NASA, validate new sensor and thrust producing technology. Also known as SPACE TECHNOLOGY 7. Part of New Millennium Program. First launch 2006/00/00

divers.....French for diverse.

Djanibekov, Vladimir.....Russia, cosmonaut. See Dzhanibekov

DK 1.....Russia, satellite, imaging, LEO. Resolution about 1 meter. Built by TsSKB Progress Production Center, Samara. Also known as DK or RESURS DK 1, for the designer Dmitri Kozlov. First launch 2006/06/15

DKR.....Senegal, organization. STDN Tracking station. See STDN.

DL.....U.S., Naval Ship, frigate.

DLB.....U.S., Naval Ship, Guide missile frigate.

DLR.....German, organization. German Aerospace Center (Deutsches Zentrum fur Luft- und

Raumfahrt) Porz-Wahnheide, Linder Hoehe, D-51147 Koeln (Cologne, Germany)

DLR-TUBSAT.....Germany, satellite, see TUBSAT.

DM.....Docking module (used on APOLLO), or Delta module (used on Delta launch vehicle).

DM.....Russia, launch vehicle stage, see Block D.

DM-21A.....U.S., launch vehicle, Thor-Able-Star. Stage 1, MB-3 Block I engine.

DM-F.....U.S., satellite. First launch 2000/08/23

DM-SL.....Russia, launch vehicle motor, uses 11D58M engine. Used on Zenit launch vehicle.

DMC.....UK, satellite, see DISASTER MONITORING CONSTELLATION.

DMC.....England, satellite, global disaster monitoring. First launch 2002/00/00

DMC-TURKEY.....Turkey, satellite, see BILSAT.

DMC-UK.....UK, satellite, see UK-DMC.

DME.....U.S., satellite, see DEM.

DMEA.....U.S., satellite, see DEM.

DMS 1.....U.S., satellite, weather. DEFENSE METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE. See DMSP.

DMSP.....U.S., satellite, meteorological. DOD METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE PROGRAM, also known as DoD MET SAT for DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE METEOROLOGICAL SATELLITE, PROGRAM 417, PROGRAM 11, PROGRAM 35, PROGRAM 694BH, and CODE 417. It is the primary United States military meteorological satellite program use in planning military operations. Civilian weather information is made available to the United States National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration. Since 1966 more than 30 satellites have been launched in polar LEO. The satellites are similar to the TIROS. DMSP will be combined with NOAA civil satellite program. Production satellites are designated by “S” plus a number. Launch order is designated by a “F” plus a number. DoD designation WS-1 A, DMSP Block 5D-2, WS-1 B, DMSP Block 5D-3, WS-2 A, DMSP Block 6. DoD System Management Codes 832L.

- DMSP 1, 1975/05/23, WTR, Thor-Burner II.

- DMSP, 1976/02/19, WTR, Thor-Burner II FTO.

- DMSP, 1976/09/11, WTR, Thor-Burner II, (AMS 1).

- DMSP F2, 1977/06/05, WTR, Thor-Burner II.

- DMSP F3, 1978/05/01, WTR, Atlas F.

- DMSP F4, 1979/06/06, WTR, Thor-Burner II.

- DMSP F5, 1980/07/14, WSMC, Thor, FTO.

- DMSP 6, 1982/12/21, WSMC, Atlas E.

- DMSP 7, 1983/11/18, WSMC, Atlas E.

- DMSP 8, 1987/06/19, WSMC, Atlas E, USA 026.

- DMSP 9, 1988/02/03, WSMC, Atlas E, USA 029.

- DMSP 10, 1990/12/01, WSMC, Atlas E, USA 068.

- DMSP 11, 1991/11/28, WSMC, Atlas E, USA 073.

- DMSP F12, 1994/08/29, WSMC, Atlas E, USA 106.

- DMSP 2 F8, 1995/03/24, WSMC, Atlas E, USA 109.

- DMSP 2 F14, 1997/04/04, WSMC, Titan II, USA 131.

First launch 1975/05/23

DMSP BLOCK 1.....U.S., satellite, weather, also known as TOS,

Dnepr.....Russia, Ukraine, launch vehicle, based upon the SS-18 ICBM. Also known as R-36M2, and SL-24. developed by NPO Yuzhnoye, operated by ISC Kosmotras.

- Dnepr (m) LEO, 9600 lbs (4400 kg) First launch 1973

- Dnepr 1, 8377 lbs (3800 kg) LEO, Article number 15A18M. Stage 1, 4 each RD-264. Stage 2, RD-0255 or RD-0288. Stage 3, RD-864. First launch 1999/4/21.

- Dnepr/S-5 LEO.

First launch 1973/00/00

Dobrovolski, Guerogui.....Russia, cosmonaut. See Dobrovolsky

Dobrovolsky, Georgi.....Russia, cosmonaut, SOYUZ 11, 1971/06/06. First launch 1971/06/06

dock.....To maneuver and bring a spacecraft together with something (as another spacecraft) in space.

docking.....First docking, GEMINI 8, with Agena target rocket. 1966/03/16

docking.....rendezvous (Fr)., jonction (Fr)., verabredung (D)., verbindung (D).

DoD.....U.S., Department of Defense. U.S. DoD, Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

DoD Designation.....

DoD Designation

       U.S. DoD, Project/Program/System designation and identification used by U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force. Started in the 1940's and continues through 2000's. U.S. Project identification used by U.S. Army, and later by the U.S. Air Force in the 1940's and 1950's, was the MX or Material Experimental designation. Starting in the early 1950's, the Air Force started to assign numerical designations to complete weapons systems, support systems and general categories of activity (like research studies). The designations initially was WS, SS, OS, RS. Starting in the 1960's System Management Code (SMC) was introduced and is currently used. The SMC gradually replaced WS, SS, OS, and RS. The system numbers [see column labeled (2) in table below] are still is use today. Weapons/support systems, which received a number in the original designation system retained this number as their SMC. Other weapons use newly assigned numbers, including numbers, which had been originally assigned to a different system, which is now out of service. These numbers are sometimes related to other designations of the weapon (e.g. the LGM-118A Peacekeeper ICBM has SMCs in the 118 series). Also being used were the prefix AFP, Project, Program, Code, and no prefix.

Note: The dash between the designator and the number is often omitted.

(1) designators:

MX - Material Experimental (Used in the 1940's and 1950's)

WS - Weapons System (Used in the 1950's)

SS - Support System (Used in the 1950's)

OS - Operational Support (Used in the 1950's)

RS - Research Support (Used in the 1950's)

AFP - Air Force Program (Gradually replaced WS, SS, OS, and RS) There are some numbers in my "database", which are associated with USAF projects, but don't seem to fall into the "MX", "WS/SS/RS" and "System" designation lists. Instead the numbers are usually just prefixed with "Project", "Program", "AFP" (Air Force Program) or not at all. It is possible that some of the numbers (especially the 3-digit ones) actually belong to the "System" numbering series of the preceding section.

Program - (Gradually replaced WS, SS, OS, and RS)

Project - (Gradually replaced WS, SS, OS, and RS)

Code - (Gradually replaced WS, SS, OS, and RS) (Unofficial but used in the literature)

(None) - (Gradually replaced WS, SS, OS, and RS)

(2) three-digit system number. Blocks of numbers are assigned to different general system categories as follows: Within each block, the initial numbers were probably assigned sequentially. Later, however, the numbers were apparently arbitrarily assigned. The n99 numbers seem to have been used for general studies. Numbers, which had become obsolete, were often reassigned to new systems. Systems in the 100, 200 and 300 blocks originally received "WS" designators, while systems in the 400, 500 and 600 blocks were designated "SS", "OS" and "RS", respectively. This applies to 3 digit numbers carried over from the MX, WS, OS, SS, RS designation. However, the prefixes were not always consistently used, and often completely omitted. Many other exceptions exist. For more detailed explanation, see reference

100 - 199: Strategic Systems

200 - 299: Air-Defense Systems

300 - 399: Tactical Systems

400 - 499: Support Systems

500 - 599: Operational Support

600 - 699: Research/Experimental Support

(3) suffix letter, was usually an "A" for weapons systems and an "L" for support systems (including reconnaissance). If the same system number was assigned to different actual projects or activities, subsequent letters would be used (e.g., "B", "C", ..., or "M", "N", ..., respectively). The use of suffixes was not entirely consistent: The suffix letters in SMCs are not assigned sequentially. Instead, some letters are mostly used for a specific purpose. Examples are
- "E": Usually designates the engine of an airborne weapon system
- "Z": Used to designate all versions of a weapon system (as opposed to a specific version)

Other terms used include DoD Project Designation, DoD System Designation,

DOD Missile and satellite Designation

       U.S., Military. In 1963 the current system of alpha numeric designation for U.S. military missiles, rockets, drones and probes, was established, and is contained in DOD Publication 4120.15-L. Satellites were added in 1990. Only those vehicles relative to this document will be listed. Each vehicle is designated by a letter/number combination as follows:

(1) vehicle type:

       B - Booster

       M - Guided Missile, Drone, UAV

       N - Probe (suborbital sounding rocket)

       R - Rocket (unguided vehicle)

       S - Satellite

(2) Mission

       C - Transport

       D - Decoy

       E - Special Electronics, Communication

       G - Surface Attack

       I - Interception (air or space)

       L - Launch Detection

       M - Scientific Measurements, Calibration

       N - Navigation

Q - Drone, UAV

S - Space Operations Support

       T - Training

       U - Underwater Attack

       W - Weather (probes or satellites gathering and/or distributing meteorological data)

(3) launch environment of the vehicle

       A - Air

       B - Multiple

       C - Coffin (non-hardened container)

       F - Individual

       G - Runway or Ground

       H - Silo Stored (but launched from surface)

       L - Silo Launched

       M - Ground Launched, Mobile

       P - Soft Pad (fixed, unprotected surface location)

       R - Surface Ship

       S - Space

       U - Underwater

(4) model number/Design number

(5) series/version of the vehicle.

A - first version (including prototypes)

B - second version, etc. Minor modifications or slightly differing sub-variants are sometimes indicated by additional suffix numbers, e.g. AIM-9J-2.

(6) is an optional status prefix:

C - Captive (e.g. carried by aircraft for training purposes but not launched)

D - Dummy (completely inert training round without motor and warhead)

J - Special Test, Temporary

M - Maintenance (obsolete; this letter has been removed in the latest revision of the system)

N - Special Test, Permanent

X - Experimental

Y - Prototype

Z - Planning

(7) Most missiles receive a "popular name" or acronym very early in the planning or development phase. While the name is not part of the official designations, many missiles are almost exclusively referenced by their name, both in the popular press and in official government news releases and documents.

DoD Rocket Motor/engine Designation

U.S. Air Force uses the LR/SR rocket motor/engine designators. Please note that exceptions to this designation system exist.