# DSP F9

> These Defense Support System satellites were the space-based segment of a 2-tiered ballistic missile launch detection and warning system.

**Wikidata**: [Q113172779](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q113172779)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/dsp-f9

## Summary
DSP F9 is an artificial satellite that served as the space-based segment of a two-tiered ballistic missile launch detection and warning system. Launched in 1981, it was a component of the Defense Support System designed to identify and alert authorities to missile threats from orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Classification:** Artificial satellite (human-made object in orbit)
- **System Role:** Space-based segment of a 2-tiered ballistic missile launch detection and warning system
- **Launch Date:** March 16, 1981
- **Launch Vehicle:** Titan IIIC (a model of the Titan III launch vehicle)
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
- **Satellite Catalog Number (SCN):** 12339
- **COSPAR ID:** 1981-025A
- **NSSDCA ID:** 1981-025A
- **Aliases:** DSPF9, 12339

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of DSP F9?
A: DSP F9 was designed to function as the space-based component of a two-tiered system for the detection and warning of ballistic missile launches. It provided surveillance and monitoring capabilities as part of the Defense Support System.

### Q: When and where was DSP F9 launched?
A: The satellite was launched on March 16, 1981. The launch took place at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: What rocket was used to put DSP F9 into orbit?
A: DSP F9 was launched using a Titan IIIC, which is a specific model of the Titan III launch vehicle.

### Q: What are the official tracking identifiers for DSP F9?
A: The satellite is officially identified by the Satellite Catalog Number (SCN) 12339 and the COSPAR/NSSDCA ID 1981-025A.

## Why It Matters
DSP F9 represents a critical implementation of space-based surveillance technology. As part of the Defense Support System, it provided a necessary vantage point for the detection of ballistic missile launches, which is a fundamental requirement for national defense and strategic warning. By operating as the space-based segment of a two-tiered detection system, it helped ensure that missile activity could be identified and reported through a structured warning framework. Its deployment underscores the transition of defense monitoring from ground-based systems to integrated, multi-tiered architectures that utilize orbital assets for global coverage.

## Notable For
- **Two-Tiered Defense:** Served as the orbital component of a specialized 2-tiered ballistic missile launch detection and warning system.
- **Titan IIIC Payload:** Utilized the Titan IIIC, a heavy-duty model of the Titan III launch vehicle family.
- **Strategic Surveillance:** Functioned as a primary space-based asset for the Defense Support System (DSP).
- **Early 1980s Deployment:** Launched in March 1981 from the historic Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

## Body
### Mission and System Integration
DSP F9 was an artificial satellite integrated into the Defense Support System. Its primary mission was to serve as the space-based segment of a two-tiered ballistic missile launch detection and warning system. This system was designed to provide early identification of missile launches, utilizing the satellite's position in orbit to monitor for potential threats.

### Launch and Orbital Entry
The satellite was successfully launched on March 16, 1981. The launch operation was conducted at Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. The mission utilized a Titan IIIC launch vehicle, a specific variant of the Titan III model, to deliver the satellite into its orbital path.

### Technical Specifications and Identification
As a human-made object in orbit, DSP F9 is tracked under several international and military designations:
*   **SCN:** 12339
*   **COSPAR ID:** 1981-025A
*   **NSSDCA ID:** 1981-025A
*   **Common Alias:** DSPF9

The satellite is classified under the general category of artificial satellites and was a key asset in the space-based segment of the Defense Support System's detection infrastructure.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report