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The Interim Polar System
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February
20, 2007: The U.S. Air Force put the second of three polar communications
satellites into orbit earlier this month. This means that the satellite
military communications capability for the arctic is now available for use. The
Interim Polar System (IPS) gets satellite communications to a part of the
planet that is often a communications black hole. The IPS birds, since they are
owned by the Department of Defense, can provide encrypted communications for
military users. Civilian users will be allowed access to the IPS birds,
whenever capacity is available. The polar region is critical militarily, as the
shortest way from anywhere, to anywhere, in the northern hemisphere, is usually
via the polar areas. The third IPS satellite will improve coverage and provide
backup.
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