A supersonic molecular beam of scandium monosulfide (ScS), produced using a laser ablation/ reaction source, was interrogated by laser induced fluorescence, The fine and magnetic hyperfine interactions in the (0,0) B (2) Sigma(+)-X (2) Sigma(+) band system (origin=12 940.402 cm(-1)) were analyzed. The magnitude of the Stark effect was measured for the (R-R(24) + (R)Q(24))(0) and (P-P(13) + (P)Q(23))(1) branch features, giving dipole moments of mu(B (2) Sigma(+))=5.60+/-0.04D and mu(X (2) Sigma(+))=5.64 +/-0.04 D. The spectroscopic parameters and dipole moments are used to develop a molecular orbital bonding model and are compared with the isovalent molecules ScO and ScNH. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.