-Description |
Overview (U):(U) The Challenge Athena program leverages commercial satellite communications capabilities to provide deployed Navy carrier battle groups with high data rate (T1) communications capabilities for the transmission and dissemination of national imagery, telemedicine, radio central orderwire, sailor telephone, and intelligence and surveillance data. |
(U) Challenge Athena allows for at-sea imagery and intelligence transmission, data-base access, video-teleconferencing, multi-line CONUS telephone connectivity, and telemedicine. The system uses leased 36 mHz transponder from COMSAT with a global beam to eliminate the need to track the ship which also allows any unit similarly equipped within the satellite footprint to receive the same feed. The Challenge Athena I demonstration established a one-way (simplex) link to USS George Washington (CVN 73) for a three month period in 1992. Challenge Athena II, provided a two-way (full duplex) T-1 transmit/receive link with the USS George Washington during an entire six month deployment. Challenge Athena III will extend the number of commercial satellite communications terminals deployed.
(U) To be supplied.
(U) Operational.
(U) None.
Name | Title |
---|---|
Wideband Gapfiller | Wideband Gapfiller |
Name | Title |
---|---|
Leased Services | Leased Services |
Name | Title |
---|---|
MILSATCOM | SPACE FORCE ENHANCEMENT: MILSATCOM |
(U) None.
Navy.
(U) DoD: OASD(C3I), Pentagon, Washington, DC
(U) Service Staff: OPNAV (N63/N631J) Arlington, VA
(U) Major Command: COMNAVSPACECOM, Dahlgren, VA
(U) Program Management: COMSPAWARSYSCOM, Washington, DC
(U) National Security Space Road Map Team, NSSA, Open Phone: (703) 808-6040, DSN 898-6040.
(U) 01 October 1997
(U) Road Map Production Date: 23 June 2001