The Legacy of Milstar 1: Three Decades of Assured Command, Control

A graphic depiction of Milstar 1, For more than 30 years, the Military Strategic and Tactical Relay (Milstar) system has served as the backbone of secure, jam-resistant communications for the Department of War. After far exceeding its intended operational lifespan, the original Milstar 1 Developmental Flight Satellite-1 (DFS-1) satellite officially completed its displacement after being retired from mission use on May 5, 2026. The Operators displace satellites to prevent collisions with active spacecraft and to keep space clean. Depending on its altitude, the satellite is either pushed to burn up in Earth's atmosphere or boosted outward into a safe "graveyard" orbit.

PHOTO BY: John Ayre

VIRIN: 260612-F-TD082-1001.JPG

FULL SIZE: 1.28 MB

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IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

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