Little need to stress about that loud, fiery exploding noise in Florida last week — that was the sound folks all becoming somewhat safer. An Atlas 5 rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral on Saturday, carrying Lockheed Martin’s Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) Geo-1. The spacecraft could be followed by three more satellites launched within the next five years, all totaling $17.6 billion. Ominously often called “persistent overhead surveillance,” the $1.3 billion first piece of the SBIRS constellation missile defense system is about to switch the antiquated Defense Support Program launched in 1970. It is a small price to pay to maintain those darn space invaders out of our hair.
National Space Asset to reinforce Missile Warning Capabilities
CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., May 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The primary Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) for the U.S. Air Force, was successfully launched today at 2:10 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. SBIRS GEO-1 is essentially the mostsome of the most technologically advanced military infrared satellite ever developed and should deliver vastly improved missile warning capabilities for the nation while simultaneously improving the Nation’s missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness mission areas.
“Today’s successful launch is a tribute to the labor, dedication and unmatched expertise of the complete government and industry SBIRS team. i’m pleased with the girls and men who’ve worked in this spacecraft, and am confident the nation can be pleased with its performance on orbit,” said Brig Gen (select) Roger W. Teague, the U.S. Air Force’s Infrared Space Systems Directorate director. “SBIRS GEO-1 represents the dawn of a brand new era in overhead persistent infrared surveillance on the way to greatly improve our national security for future years.”
SBIRS GEO-1 includes highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors if you want to deliver improved infrared sensitivity and a discount in area revisit times over the present constellation. The scanning sensor will provide a large area surveillance of missile launches and natural phenomena around the earth, while the staring sensor should be used to monitor smaller areas of interest with superior sensitivity. These dual independent sensors will enhance early warning of missile launches everywhere, support the nation’s ballistic missile defense system, greatly expand our technical intelligence gathering capability, and bolster situational awareness for warfighters at the battlefield.
“We understand the significance of the SBIRS mission and are proud to partner with the U.S. Air Force in this critical program,” said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin’s vp and SBIRS program director. “Inside the development of this primary-of-its-kind satellite, our SBIRS team has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to operational excellence. Hence, we’re confident SBIRS GEO-1 will deliver unprecedented, global, persistent, taskable infrared surveillance capabilities to the warfighter, nation and our allies for years yet to come.”
The SBIRS team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate on the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman because the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.
“The launch of SBIRS GEO-1 heralds a brand new era for missile warning and other missions enabled by overhead persistent infrared sensors,” said Steve Toner, Northrop Grumman’s vp of OPIR and Azusa Programs. “We will not wait to show it on. These sensors are highly capable, and we all know that they’re going to be of significant value to our warfighters, our nation, and our allies.”
Lockheed Martin’s original SBIRS contract includes HEO payloads, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, in addition ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data. The team can also be under a follow-on production contract to deliver additional HEO payloads and the third and fourth GEO satellites, and associated ground modifications.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a worldwide security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is mainly engaged within the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, services and products. The Corporation’s 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.
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