# DMSP 5D-2/F10

> satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q111500074](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q111500074)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dmsp-5d-2-f10

## Summary
DMSP 5D-2/F10 is an artificial satellite operated by the United States Department of Defense as part of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). Launched on December 1, 1990, it was deployed into orbit using an Atlas E/F expendable launch vehicle.

## Key Facts
- **Class:** Artificial satellite (human-made object put into an orbit).
- **Launch Date:** December 1, 1990.
- **Launch Vehicle:** Atlas E/F (American expendable launch vehicle).
- **Parent Program:** Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), a monitoring program for the U.S. Department of Defense.
- **COSPAR ID:** 1990-105A.
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1990-105A.
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 20978.
- **Wolfram Language Entity Code:** `Entity["Satellite", "20978"]`.

## FAQs
### Q: When was DMSP 5D-2/F10 launched?
A: DMSP 5D-2/F10 was launched on December 1, 1990.

### Q: What launch vehicle was used for DMSP 5D-2/F10?
A: The satellite was launched using an Atlas E/F, which is a type of American expendable launch vehicle.

### Q: What program does DMSP 5D-2/F10 belong to?
A: It is part of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, a monitoring program managed by the United States Department of Defense.

## Why It Matters
DMSP 5D-2/F10 serves as a specific unit within the broader Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), a critical initiative dedicated to monitoring environmental and meteorological data for the United States Department of Defense. While individual satellites are often components of a larger constellation, the launch of DMSP 5D-2/F10 in late 1990 represented the continued maintenance and upgrading of US military space-based weather monitoring capabilities during a pivotal era in global geopolitics.

The satellite's deployment using the Atlas E/F vehicle highlights the utilization of converted ballistic missile technology for space exploration, a common practice in that era of aerospace engineering. As an artificial satellite identified by unique international designators (COSPAR ID 1990-105A), it contributes to the historical record of human-made objects in orbit, aiding in space traffic management and historical tracking of orbital assets.

## Notable For
- **Program Affiliation:** Being a constituent satellite of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, providing essential data for the U.S. Department of Defense.
- **Launch Configuration:** Utilization of the Atlas E/F launch vehicle, distinguishing its delivery method from other launch systems.
- **Temporal Context:** Operation within the 1990s era of space exploration, specifically launching in December 1990.
- **Identification:** Distinct tracking via COSPAR ID (1990-105A) and Satellite Catalog Number (20978).

## Body

### Program Context
DMSP 5D-2/F10 is classified as an artificial satellite, defined as a human-made object put into orbit. It functions as a component of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). This program is a long-running United States Department of Defense initiative responsible for monitoring meteorological and oceanographic data to support military operations.

### Launch Details
The satellite was successfully delivered to orbit on **December 1, 1990**. The launch was executed using an **Atlas E/F** vehicle. The Atlas E/F is a specific type of American expendable launch vehicle, indicating the rocket was not reusable and was used specifically for this deployment profile.

### Technical Identifiers
To facilitate tracking and data management, DMSP 5D-2/F10 is associated with several standard identifiers:
*   **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 20978
*   **COSPAR International Designator:** 1990-105A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1990-105A

In computational databases, such as the Wolfram Language, the entity is coded as `Entity["Satellite", "20978"]`.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report