(U) Mark IV

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)

Overview: (U)
(U) The Mark IV terminal is the predecessor to the Mark IV-B. It is a transportable satellite terminal designed for worldwide tactical deployment in hostile environments.

Description: (U)
(U) A lightweight ground terminal, the Mark IV can either be towed over rough terrain by M-55 trucks, or transported on C-130 or C-141 aircraft. This terminal has the capability to receive, process, decrypt, display, and distribute the data from any of the DoD or NOAA meteorological satellites. These terminals also can archive data on magnetic tape in parallel with the ingesting, processing, and display of the data.

(U) The terminal provides both IR and visual high-precision imagery in near real time, corrected for distortion caused by the Earth's curvature and enhanced to bring out cloud detail. This imagery can be displayed to a 0.56-kilometer resolution and geographically located, gridded, and annotated.

(U) Imagery data from DMSP and TIROS satellites in polar orbit is received by a 3-meter hydraulically driven X-Y antenna, which has automatic pass prediction and autotrack modes of operation. Vehicle parameters are maintained for up to four satellites. Orbital-prediction capability is maintained for all visible passes within an 8-hour period. The antenna tracks from a 0-degree rise through zenith, to a 0-degree fade. The data quality is 10-6 at 10 degrees at the satellite's end of life. Data from the antenna is fed to receivers (1,690-1,715 MHz for TIROS and 2,200-2,300 MHz for DMSP), which can be tuned continuously.

(U) The imagery data is processed by bit synchronizers, recorded on tape, decrypted if necessary, and sent to the Image Generation Subsystem (IGS) hardware and microprocessors. Under the control of a single operator, the IGS can handle automated image processing, interactive image analysis, high resolution dry process hardcopy transparencies, softcopy interactive display, and remote hardcopy and softcopy displays.

User Impact: (U)
(U) Tactical  Terminals are used by the Air Force to provide tactical users, deployed worldwide, an early source of meteorological satellite data in forward areas of conflict.

Programmatics: (U)
(U) Operational.
	(U) Termination: 01/2000 (2QFY2000).

Related Initiatives: (U)
(U) AN/SMQ-11, DMSP, GOES, Mark IV-B, STT

Related Requirements: (U)
(U) None.

Related Categories: (U)
(U) User Equipment

Road Map Placements: (U)
(U) ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING.

Lead Office: (U)
(U) Air Force.

Date of Information: (U)
10 August 1998

(The effects of any budget/program decisions made since the information was collected during 1997-98 are NOT reflected in the National Security Space Road Map (NSSRM).)