BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., Jan. 19,
2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force's
460th Space Wing is now "talking" with the fourth Space
Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO)
satellite after its successful launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station, Florida, earlier this
evening.
The Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-built SBIRS GEO Flight-4
satellite is responding to the Wing's commands as planned. Signal
acquisition was confirmed approximately 37 minutes after
the satellite's 7:48 p.m. EST launch
aboard a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket.
SBIRS GEO Flight-4 is the latest satellite to join the Air
Force's orbiting missile warning constellation equipped with
powerful scanning and staring infrared surveillance sensors. The
sensors collect data for use by the U.S. military to detect missile
launches, support ballistic missile defense, expand technical
intelligence gathering and bolster situational awareness on the
battlefield. The satellite also completes the initial constellation
and allows SBIRS to provide global coverage.
Back on the ground at Buckley Air Force Base, a sophisticated
new SBIRS ground control system – also designed by Lockheed Martin
– serves as the nerve center for the entire SBIRS satellite
constellation and receives large amounts of data from the
satellites' powerful sensors. The SBIRS control system and its
operators convert this data into actionable reports for defense,
intelligence and civil applications.
"SBIRS is the nation's 24-7 global watchman, with infrared eyes
ready to detect and deliver early warning and tracking of ballistic
missiles. A cornerstone of the nation's missile defense system,
SBIRS is proving even more precise and powerful than expected,"
said Tom McCormick, vice president of Lockheed Martin's
Overhead Persistent Infrared systems mission area. "Space is a
place to do great things, and we're already improving on SBIRS,
upgrading our fifth and sixth SBIRS GEO satellites to our
modernized LM 2100 satellite bus at no additional cost to the Air
Force. On SBIRS 5 and 6 the Air Force saved $1 billion through improved production and
management efficiencies."
In late 2016, Lockheed Martin also completed a major upgrade
SBIRS' ground control system. The new "SBIRS Block 10" system
includes enhancements like faster data collection times, improved
threat detections, and improved target tracking and infrared
information to enable troops to see dimmer targets faster. SBIRS
Block 10 also provides the Air Force with greater efficiency by
consolidating ground control for the legacy Defense Support
Program, as well as SBIRS satellites and payloads in GEO and Highly
Elliptical Orbits.
Next, the SBIRS GEO Flight-4 will begin transitioning to its
final location in geosynchronous orbit, approximately 22,000 miles
above the Earth. There, the satellite's solar arrays, light shade
and antennas will be deployed to begin on-orbit testing. The
satellite will join SBIRS GEO Flights 1, 2 and 3, which were
launched in 2011, 2013 and 2017 respectively and continue to meet
or exceed performance expectations.
Lockheed Martin manufactured the SBIRS GEO Flight-4 satellite at
its Sunnyvale, California,
facility. The satellite was delivered to Florida on Oct.
31, 2017.
The SBIRS development team is led by the Remote Sensing Systems
Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems
Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.
Lockheed Martin Space, Sunnyvale, California, is the SBIRS prime contractor,
with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Azusa, California, as the payload integrator.
For additional SBIRS information, photos and video
visit: www.lockheedmartin.com/sbirs.
About Lockheed Martin
Headquartered in Bethesda,
Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace
company that employs approximately 97,000 people worldwide and is
principally engaged in the research, design, development,
manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology
systems, products and services.
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SOURCE Lockheed Martin