[Satellite Today 11-07-08] Lockheed Martin’s Block 5D-3 spacecraft, which had an original operative lifespan of four years, has surpassed five years of on-orbit operations and continues to function normally, the company announced Nov. 7.
    The satellite is part of Lockheed’s Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), a constellation providing weather data to U.S. military warfighters. The DMSP constellation is built under contract for the U.S. Air Force and is operated by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    As a result of the constellation’s longevity, the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center has elected to postpone the planned November 2008 launch of the replacement F18 DMSP spacecraft, preserving future launch options.