Overview
TSAT is a major element of a secure, high-capacity, global communications network serving the U.S. Department of Defense, NASA and the Intelligence Community. It is an enabler of network centric warfare that will facilitate defense and intelligence professionals in making rapid decisions based on integrated, comprehensive information.
Capabilities
TSAT will provide survivable, protected, high-capacity, Internet-like connectivity for airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (AISR), communications on the move (COTM) services, and protected strategic communications. The system will be interoperable with deployed and infrastructure networks and will provide superior network information assurance.
Boeing's Role
Boeing's best-of-industry team includes industry and world leaders in networking and telecommunications coupled with leading aerospace expertise in the development of advanced MILSATCOM capabilities. The Boeing team includes Cisco, Hughes Network Systems, IBM, Harris, Raytheon, General Dynamics, L-3 Communications, BBN Technologies, and EMS Technologies. The risk reduction and system definition study contract, awarded to Boeing in January 2004, is scheduled to continue until July 2009. The government will later select a single contractor to proceed with development, culminating with a first launch in 2019. Supported by a constellation of satellites in geosynchronous orbit, TSAT will provide the backbone of the DoD's high-bandwidth networked communications.
For more information, read the TSAT (PDF) overview.
If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader for reading PDF files, it is available for free from Adobe.