VANDENBERG AFB, Calif., 24 Oct. 2009. Quintron Systems Inc., provider of advanced interoperable voice systems and physical access control/intrusion detection systems, announced that its DICES mission voice switch provided critical communications support for two Atlas V launches from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

"United Launch Alliance selected DICES as the mission voice switch for the Atlas V at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) in 2000," says David Wilhite, Quintron's vice president and chief operating officer. "When the Air Force authorized updates to the Space Launch Complex-3 (SLC-3) at Vandenberg for Atlas V launches, the existing DICES mission voice switch equipment was partially reassigned for Atlas V use."

Quintron supplied communications support during the Mar. 18, 2008 launch of an Atlas V spacecraft for the National Reconnaissance Office and most recently for the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-18 Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built under contract for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin.

Quintron technicians to inspected, tested, and updated the earlier DICES equipment as the first step. In addition, the DICES Subsystem Multiplexer (Sub-MUX) equipment addition was introduced for use in hazardous areas on and around the main launch complex tower.

In addition to use of the new Sub-MUX equipment at the pad, updated DICES user stations have been introduced at the RLCC to provide a more current operating environment for the launch controllers. This included the Thin Client user station with special software modifications to meet Air Force personnel operating requirements.

The DMSP F-18 satellite provides strategic and tactical weather prediction, which aids the U.S. military in planning operations at sea, on land, and in the air.

The satellites are equipped with a sophisticated sensor suite capable of imaging cloud cover in visible and infrared light and measuring precipitation, surface temperature, and soil moisture. The spacecraft can collect this specialized global meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-geophysical information in all weather conditions.