SBIRS-GEO 1 - Atlas V 401 - Canaveral SLC-41 - 07.05.2011 18:10 UTC

[интересующийся]

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/0216_ss_sbirs.html

Lockheed Martin Completes Final Installations on First of its Kind Missile Warning Spacecraft
SBIRS GEO-1 Passes Final Factory Confidence Test in Preparation for Launch

SUNNYVALE, Calif., February 16th, 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE]-led Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) team has finished final installations on the first geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite and successfully completed the spacecraft's final factory confidence test in preparation for delivery to the launch site.

SBIRS GEO-1, with its highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors, will provide the nation with significantly improved missile warning capabilities and support other critical missions simultaneously including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

Final installations included the spacecraft's deployable light shade, solar arrays, thermal blankets, and flight batteries. The fully integrated spacecraft then successfully passed its final factory confidence test, the last major milestone in preparation for delivery to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., for a spring 2011 launch aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

"SBIRS GEO-1 will usher in a new era of critical missile warning capabilities vital to our national security. As we progress toward launch, the entire government/industry team is laser focused on delivering mission success for our warfighters," said Brig. Gen. (sel) Roger Teague, the director of the U.S. Air Force's Infrared Space Systems Directorate.

As the SBIRS GEO-1 spacecraft prepares for shipment, the spacecraft's flight software, designed to provide highly reliable command and control operations, will complete its final qualification testing, and the SBIRS ground segment team will conduct final readiness exercises in preparation to support GEO-1 launch and operations.

"The entire SBIRS team continues to focus on operational excellence as we prepare this critical spacecraft for launch," said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS vice president. "We are dedicated to achieving GEO-1 mission success and delivering unprecedented infrared surveillance capabilities to the warfighter."

The SBIRS team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman, as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

Lockheed Martin's original SBIRS contract includes two HEO payloads that have already been delivered, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data. The team is also under a follow-on production contract to deliver additional HEO payloads and GEO satellites, and associated ground modifications.

[pragmatik]

кстати, это будет какое по счёту испольование двигателя рд180?

[Frontm]

кстати, это будет какое по счёту испольование двигателя рд180?

Тридцатое

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

May 5     Atlas 5  •  SBIRS GEO 1
Launch window: TBD
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the U.S. military's first Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite, or SBIRS GEO 1, for missile early-warning detection. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from April 30. [March 3]

[Salo]

http://www.spacenews.com/military/110305-sbirs-arrives-cape-launch.html

Fri, 4 March, 2011
SBIRS Satellite Arrives at Cape Canaveral for Launch[/size]
By Space News Staff

    The U.S. Air Force's first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite, GEO-1, arrived at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., March 3 in preparation for an early May launch on an Atlas 5 rocket, prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems announced March 4.

    Once in geosynchronous orbit, the long-delayed missile warning satellite will join two SBIRS payloads hosted on classified satellites in highly elliptical orbits. Sunnyvale, Calif.-based Lockheed Martin is under contract to deliver a total of four SBIRS satellites and four highly elliptical orbiting payloads.

    The first SBIRS satellite will be prepared for launch in the Air Force's former Defense Satellite Communications System Processing Facility, the press release said. The facility's electrical power supply, communications networks, environmental control systems and clean room areas were upgraded to process the SBIRS satellites.

    The Air Force is under pressure to launch the SBIRS spacecraft in May because the Atlas 5 crew must launch two planetary missions for NASA in the summer and fall. Any further delay would push the SBIRS launch into 2012, the service has said.


Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite. Credit: Lockheed Martin artist's concept

[интересующийся]

U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin Deliver First-Of-Its-Kind Missile Warning Spacecraft
SBIRS GEO-1 to Be Processed for May 2011 Launch

SUNNYVALE, Calif., March 7th, 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin [NYSE] team has delivered the first geosynchronous (GEO-1) Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) spacecraft to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., where it will be prepared for an early May liftoff aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle.

Полностью здесь: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/0302_ss_sbirs.html
Там кстати на фотке виден кусочек сабжа. Он и правда весь какой-то "угловатый" как на картинке у Salo.

[Salo]

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=space&id=news/asd/2011/04/01/01.xml&headline=Next%20Sbirs%20Buy%20Proposed,%20GEO-1%20Launch%20Readied

Next Sbirs Buy Proposed, GEO-1 Launch Readied[/size]

Apr 1, 2011

 By Amy Butler

The U.S. Air Force is planning to propose the purchase of the fifth and sixth Space-Based Infrared System (Sbirs) early missile warning spacecraft through a new process that calls for the unusual measure of buying two satellites at once.

This process, called Evolutionary Acquisition for Space Efficiency (EASE), is three pronged. It calls for stable funding of a block buy of two satellites at a fixed price; a parallel account to provide money for product improvement, and parallel work on the mission area's architecture — in this case, the infrared ballistic missile warning mission.

EASE applied to Sbirs "is what we've laid into the [future year defense plan]," says Erin Conaton, Air Force undersecretary. The EASE proposal for the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) constellation "was just at the right moment to start in '12. If Congress supports it, the intent would be to do it with Sbirs next year. Obviously, we need to get . . . a handle on the cost basis and start some of the negotiations to make sure we can get some of the savings we want out of it."

Congress requires a traditional multiyear buy — for example, of aircraft — to produce at least 10% savings. Air Force officials hope that applying EASE to existing satellite programs will save money from the total buy and provide industry a stable funding stream to reduce gaps in work.

The proposal for applying EASE to Sbirs has been reviewed by Air Force acquisition chief David Van Buren. It must still be approved, however, by Pentagon procurement czar Ashton Carter.

Program officials expect to brief Carter on the strategy this spring, says Col. Roger Teague, Sbirs program director for the Air Force.

The average price of a Sbirs geosynchronous satellite is $1.3 billion, according to Air Force officials. This does not include the massive development cost of the program. Lockheed Martin officials have previously said they plan to reduce that price to under $1 billion.

Sbirs GEO-1, the first of its kind, is slated for launch as early at May 4 from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas V rocket. It should be through an extensive testing phase and ready for operations within about 15 months, says Ray Yelle, missile warning and missile defense lead for Air Force Space Command.

GEO-1 will be the first of the Sbirs satellites slated to replace the aging Defense Support Program and provide early warning of ballistic missile attack. It will carry two infrared (IR) sensors — one a scanner and one a spot starer. These sensors can collect information in the short- and midwave bands. The payload, which is made by Northrop Grumman, also can see through weather to the ground, says Lockheed Martin Sbirs vice president Jeff Smith, using a specialized widened short-wave IR capability.

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

May 5     Atlas 5  •  SBIRS GEO 1
Launch window: 1825-1905 GMT (2:25-3:05 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the U.S. military's first Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite, or SBIRS GEO 1, for missile early-warning detection. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from April 30. [April 4]

[G.K.]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

May 5     Atlas 5  •  SBIRS GEO 1
Launch window: 1825-1905 GMT (2:25-3:05 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the U.S. military's first Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite, or SBIRS GEO 1, for missile early-warning detection. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from April 30. [April 4]

А во сколько это по Москве?

[Salo]

22:25 - 23:05 ЛМВ.

[G.K.]

22:25 - 23:05 ЛМВ.

а где трансляцию посмотреть?

[Salo]

Ближе к маю узнаем. :wink:

[Salo]

AviationWeek.com: USAF Prepares For First Sbirs GEO Launch[/size]

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

May 6     Atlas 5  •  SBIRS GEO 1
Launch window: Approx. 1825-1905 GMT (2:25-3:05 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the U.S. military's first Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite, or SBIRS GEO 1, for missile early-warning detection. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from April 30 and May 5. [April 14]

[Salo]

http://www.airforce-magazine.com/SiteCollectionDocuments/Reports/2011/April%202011/Day13/SBIRS_041211.pdf

SPACE & MISSILE SYSTEMS CENTER (AFSPC)  
Los Angeles Air Force Base
Media Release      
   
SBIRS GEO-1 Fueled for Launch
 
LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. -- The Space Based Infrared Systems team passed a major milestone April 11 with the successful completion of the spacecraft fueling for the GEO-1 satellite.
 
Space vehicle fueling signifies all spacecraft preparations are complete, and the satellite is ready to be mated with the rocket for an early May launch.  
 
The final decision to fuel was given by Lt. Gen. Tom Sheridan, commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center here, after several detailed readiness reviews were conducted in the months prior to beginning fueling operations.
 
"The joint government/industry team has made tremendous progress and established exceptional commitment in preparing the first SBIRS GEO spacecraft for launch," said Brig. Gen. (s) Roger Teague, director of SMC's Infrared Space Systems Directorate.  "The completion of fueling
GEO -1 is a strong indication we are moving quickly toward final preparation for launch."  
 
The SBIRS spacecraft propulsion system is a dual-mode design, which operates as a pressure-regulated bipropellant system consisting of fuel and oxidizer and a monopropellant system consisting of hydrazine.  Propellants include hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.  
 
In the bipropellant mode, the system operates with hypergolic propellants, hydrazine (fuel) and nitrogen tetroxide (oxidizer) for high performance during orbital transfer. Once on station, the system operates in monopropellant mode, using only the hydrazine as fuel for simplicity and reliability.

"Fueling of SBIRS GEO-1 is a major milestone, and I am extremely proud of the entire joint government and industry SBIRS team.   We have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the program in preparing this spacecraft for launch," said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's vice president and SBIRS program director.  
 
The next major milestone for GEO-1 is payload fairing encapsulation and transport to the Vertical Integration Facility where it will be mated to the top of the launch vehicle.
SBIRS replaces the legacy Defense Support Program constellation. The state-of-the-art SBIRS sensors will provide significantly enhanced capabilities to support four mission areas:  Missile Warning, Missile Defense, Battlespace Awareness and Technical Intelligence.  
 
The SBIRS team is led by SMC/IS.  Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, located in Sunnyvale, Calif., is the prime contractor.

[Salo]

http://spaceflightnow.com/tracking/index.html

May 6     Atlas 5  •  SBIRS GEO 1
Launch window: 1814-1854 GMT (2:14-2:54 p.m. EDT)
Launch site: SLC-41, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida

The United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket will launch the U.S. military's first Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite, or SBIRS GEO 1, for missile early-warning detection. The rocket will fly in the 401 vehicle configuration with a four-meter fairing, no solid rocket boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Delayed from April 30 and May 5. [April 14]

[Salo]

http://msdb.gsfc.nasa.gov/launches.php

5/6/2011, 1825-1905Z   SBIRS-GEO 1  Atlas V     Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

[Salo]

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/0426_ss_sbirs.html

Lockheed Martin-Built Missile Warning Satellite Encapsulated in Launch Vehicle Payload Fairing[/size]
Team Prepares U.S. Air Force's SBIRS GEO-1 for Early May Liftoff

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., April 26th, 2011 -- The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE] - built Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) spacecraft was encapsulated into its payload fairing April 20 in preparation for an early May liftoff aboard an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

SBIRS GEO-1 will enhance the nation's missile warning capabilities and improve other critical mission areas simultaneously including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

The GEO-1 satellite includes highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors that will deliver enhanced infrared sensitivity and a reduction in area revisit times over the current constellation. The scanning sensor will provide a wide area surveillance of missile launches and natural phenomena across the earth, while the staring sensor will be used to observe smaller areas of interest with enhanced sensitivity. When GEO-1 is launched, declared operational and its data is fused into the current constellation, SBIRS will deliver unprecedented, global, persistent, taskable infrared surveillance capabilities to the warfighter, nation and allies for decades to come.

The SBIRS team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman, as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.


Shown here is the first geosynchronous (GEO-1) Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) missile warning satellite during fairing encapsulation in preparation for an early May launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

[интересующийся]

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/0504_ss_sbirs.html

U.S. Air Force Poised To Launch First-Of-Its-Kind Space Based Infrared System Satellite

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., May 4th, 2011 -- The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin [NYSE : LMT] are ready to launch the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) spacecraft on Friday, May 6 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The launch window is 2:14 p.m. EDT to 2:54 p.m. EDT. A live launch broadcast will begin at 1:54 p.m. EDT and will be accessible via the ULA webcast.

SBIRS GEO-1 will enhance early warning of missile launches around the globe, support the nation's ballistic missile defense system, greatly expand our technical intelligence gathering capability, and provide enhanced situational awareness for warfighters on the battlefield.

"SBIRS GEO-1 represents the dawn of a new era in overhead persistent infrared surveillance that will greatly improve national security for years to come," said Brig Gen (select) Roger W. Teague, the U.S. Air Force's Infrared Space Systems Directorate director. "We look forward to getting this next generation system on orbit and delivering its enhanced capabilities to the warfigher."

The GEO-1 satellite includes highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors that will deliver enhanced infrared sensitivity and a reduction in area revisit times over the current constellation. The scanning sensor will provide a wide area surveillance of missile launches and natural phenomena across the earth, while the staring sensor will be tasked to observe smaller areas of interest with enhanced sensitivity.

"SBIRS GEO-1 will usher in a new era of critical missile warning capabilities vital to our national security, and we are focused on delivering mission success for the warfighter," said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's vice president and SBIRS program director. "The dedication, talent and integrity of the entire SBIRS team has been remarkable, and this launch will be a testament to every individual who has supported this vitally important program."

The SBIRS team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

[us2-star]

Window: 2:14-2:54 p.m. EDT
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/status.html
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Flash_Webcast.shtml

[us2-star]

Не сегодня...
погода...

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/

Cloudy weather postpones Atlas 5 rocket launch

The local weather conditions at Cape Canaveral kept the Atlas 5 rocket on the launch pad today, postponing this mission to deploy the SBIRS GEO-1 missile warning satellite until Saturday at 2:10 p.m. EDT (1810 GMT).

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/preflight/

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/prelaunch/

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/panos/

[Tiger]

Бесстыжие какие, со всех сторон его зафотографировали и выложили.  :lol:

[KBOB]

2 часа до открытия окна. Летят или нет?

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/status.html

1634 GMT (12:34 p.m. EDT)
The chilldown conditioning of liquid hydrogen propellant lines at Complex 41 is starting to prepare the plumbing for transferring the Minus-423 degree F fuel into the rocket. The Centaur holds about 12,680 gallons of the cryogenic propellant.

1632 GMT (12:32 p.m. EDT)
Centaur liquid oxygen is three-quarters full.

1629 GMT (12:29 p.m. EDT)
The chilldown conditioning of the systems for the first stage liquid oxygen tank have been completed. And a "go" has been given to begin pumping supercold liquid oxygen into the Atlas 5's first stage.

The Common Core Booster stage's liquid oxygen tank is the largest tank to be filled today. It holds 48,860 gallons of cryogenic oxidizer for the RD-180 main engine.

1623 GMT (12:23 p.m. EDT)
The Centaur liquid oxygen tank has reached the 30 percent mark.

1612 GMT (12:12 p.m. EDT)
Filling of the Centaur upper stage with about 4,150 gallons of liquid oxygen has begun at Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 following the thermal conditioning of the transfer pipes.

The liquid oxygen -- chilled to Minus-298 degrees F -- will be consumed during the launch by the Centaur's single RL10 engine along with liquid hydrogen to be pumped into the stage a little later in the countdown. The Centaur will perform two firings to propel the payload into geosynchronous transfer orbit.

1606 GMT (12:06 p.m. EDT)
The Centaur liquid oxygen pad storage area has been prepped. The next step is conditioning the transfer lines, which is now beginning to prepare the plumbing for flowing the cryogenic oxidizer.

1600 GMT (12:00 p.m. EDT)
T-minus 120 minutes and counting! The launch countdown is continuing on schedule for today's flight of the Atlas 5 rocket with the first Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous (SBIRS GEO-1) satellite aboard.

Clocks have one more built-in hold planned at T-minus 4 minutes. That pause will last 10 minutes during which time the final "go" for launch will be given. All remains targeted for liftoff at 2:10 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral's Complex 41.

In the next couple of minutes, chilldown thermal conditioning of the mobile launch platform upon which the rocket stands will begin. This is meant to ease the shock on equipment when supercold cryogenic propellants start flowing into the rocket.

1558 GMT (11:58 a.m. EDT)
After briefing his team on procedures before entering into the final two hours of the countdown, the launch conductor at the Atlas Spaceflight Operations Center just held a pre-fueling readiness poll. All console operators reported a "ready" status.

The ULA launch director also voiced his approval for proceeding with the countdown.

Loading of cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen into the Atlas 5 rocket will be getting underway a short time from now.

1545 GMT (11:45 a.m. EDT)
The SBIRS GEO-1 spacecraft was shipped from Lockheed Martin's manufacturing factory in Sunnyvale, California, to the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March 3 aboard a C-5 transport aircraft.

The satellite spent the next several weeks at the DSCS Processing Facility undergoing launch base confidence testing after shipment, fueling with 5,000 pounds of maneuvering propellant and encapsulation in the rocket's nose cone before its move to the Atlas' vertical assembly facility on April 26 for mounting atop the booster.

See a collection of photographs showing the satellite's launch campaign.

The Cape facilities received an infrastructure upgrade in preparation for this new breed for SBIRS satellites, including electrical, communications and environmental control and even a new access road from runway to processing building.

1530 GMT (11:30 a.m. EDT)
T-minus 2 hours and holding. The countdown has just entered the first of two planned holds over the course of the day that will lead to the 2:10 p.m. EDT launch of the Atlas rocket. This initial pause lasts 30 minutes, giving the team some margin in the countdown timeline to deal with technical issues or any work that is running behind. The final hold is scheduled to occur at T-minus 4 minutes and will last for 10 minutes.

1524 GMT (11:24 a.m. EDT)
The Complex 41 pad and the danger area have been cleared of all workers for the remainder of the countdown.

1519 GMT (11:19 a.m. EDT)
The launch weather officer has amended the forecast to reduce visibility down to 5 miles. There's a fire up north that is blowing haze into the Cape Canaveral area. But that won't be a problem for launch. Current conditions are acceptable and expected to remain that way all day.

1505 GMT (11:05 a.m. EDT)
Activities in the launch countdown this morning are proceeding nicely. No issues are being reported as clocks target a 2:10 p.m. EDT liftoff of the Atlas 5 rocket. The guidance system testing just wrapped up and the pad crew is finishing its hands-on work at Complex 41 now.

1435 GMT (10:35 a.m. EDT)
The hazard area roadblocks around the launch site's safety perimeter are being established now. And the launch team has started configuring the pad's water deluge system. Also, inspections of the pad have been completed.

[KBOB]

T-4 и ждем.

[instml]

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/status.html

1750 GMT (1:50 p.m. EDT)
Now just 20 minutes away from launch.

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)

And check out Spaceflight Now's Facebook page!

1745 GMT (1:45 p.m. EDT)
Take a unique look around Cape Canaveral's Complex 41 launch pad with these panoramic images taken on Thursday afternoon. They show the Atlas 5 rocket standing poised for blastoff carrying SBIRS GEO-1, the Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous-1 missile warning satellite.

1740 GMT (1:40 p.m. EDT)
Thirty minutes from liftoff. The countdown clocks are heading to the T-minus 4 minute mark where a planned 10-minute hold will occur. Launch of Atlas 5 remains scheduled for 2:10 p.m. EDT.

1734 GMT (1:34 p.m. EDT)
Pre-launch checks of the rocket's safety system have been completed.

1725 GMT (1:25 p.m. EDT)
Just 45 minutes until liftoff time of the SBIRS GEO-1 satellite that begins the next generation of geosynchronous spacecraft to continuously look for missile launches and alert the national leadership and battlefield commanders.

The SBIRS GEO-1 spacecraft, which weighs about 10,000 pounds at launch, was built by Lockheed Martin using the company's commercial A2100 satellite design. It features a pair of power-generating solar arrays, two communications antenna wings that unfold and a deployable light shade to shield its sensitive infrared instruments.

Unlikely the previous generation of Defense Support Program missile warning satellites that have only scanning sensors, the SBIRS GEO spacecraft has both scanning and staring instruments to increase the amount of reconnaissance that can be collected.

"We have two taskible sensors on the satellite," said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's vice president and SBIRS program director. "One is a scanner and one is a starer. The scanner is used for global surveillance and the starer is used to look in certain areas. We can put it where ever we want, basically, to see dimmer targets and see faster burning targets. So the ability is to task this system to do both global and theater missions and intelligence missions simultaneously is really the revolutionary part of this system."

The SBIRS system will augment and gradually replace the heritage Defense Support Program satellites.

"Once launched and fielded, GEO-1 will bring the dawn of a new era in persistant overhead surveillance," said Brig. Gen. (s) Roger Teague, director of the U.S. Air Force's Infrared Space Systems Directorate.

"GEO-1 will play a vital role in our national security space architecture, and we look forward to getting this satellite on-orbit. After GEO-1 is launched, and early orbit tests are complete, SBIRS will deliver unprecedented, global, persistent, infrared surveillance capabilities to our nation for decades to come."

1718 GMT (1:18 p.m. EDT)
Fast-filling of the first stage liquid oxygen tank has been completed. Topping mode is now underway.

1716 GMT (1:16 p.m. EDT)
The liquid hydrogen tank in the Centaur upper stage just reached the 97 percent level. Topping is now beginning.

1714 GMT (1:14 p.m. EDT)
The first stage liquid oxygen tank is 90 percent full now.

1711 GMT (1:11 p.m. EDT)
The weather remains excellent and posing no worries today.

1710 GMT (1:10 p.m. EDT)
Now 60 minutes from liftoff. Fueling of the Atlas rocket with cryogenic liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen is proceeding as planned for a liftoff at 2:10 p.m. EDT.

If you are heading out to Titusville or the beach to watch the launch, sign up for our Twitter feed to get occasional countdown updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)

1709 GMT (1:09 p.m. EDT)
The first stage liquid oxygen has reached the 80 percent level.

1704 GMT (1:04 p.m. EDT)
Centaur's liquid hydrogen tank is 20 percent full. The cryogenic propellant will be consumed with liquid oxygen by the stage's Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne-made RL10 engine.

1657 GMT (12:57 p.m. EDT)
Chilldown of the liquid hydrogen system has been accomplished. The launch team has received the "go" to begin filling the Centaur upper stage with the supercold fuel.

1656 GMT (12:56 p.m. EDT)
First stage liquid oxygen tank is 50 percent full thus far. Chilled to Minus-298 degrees F, the liquid oxygen will be used with RP-1 kerosene by the RD-180 main engine on the first stage during the initial four-and-a-quarter minutes of flight today. The 25,000 gallons of RP-1 were loaded into the rocket earlier.

1650 GMT (12:50 p.m. EDT)
The Centaur engine chilldown sequence is being initiated.

1646 GMT (12:46 p.m. EDT)
Upper stage liquid oxygen has reached flight level.

1640 GMT (12:40 p.m. EDT)
Now just 90 minutes away from launch.

A reminder that if you will be away from your computer but would like to receive occasional countdown updates, sign up for our Twitter feed to get text message updates on your cellphone. U.S. readers can also sign up from their phone by texting "follow spaceflightnow" to 40404. (Standard text messaging charges apply.)

And check out Spaceflight Now's Facebook page!

1638 GMT (12:38 p.m. EDT)
The Centaur liquid oxygen tank reached the 95 percent level. The topping off process is starting now.

1637 GMT (12:37 p.m. EDT)
The first stage liquid oxygen loading is switching from slow-fill to fast-fill mode.

[Salo]

12 минут до открытия стартового окна.

[Salo]

Видео:
http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Flash_Webcast.shtml

[Liss]

В 22:10 летнего московского ждем.

[Salo]

Улетела!

[Liss]

Отсечка РД-180. Разделение. Запуск "Центавра".

[Salo]

Есть отделение первой ступени!
РД-180 отработал! :wink:

[Salo]

1812 GMT (2:12 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 5 minutes, 45 seconds. The rocket is tracking right down the planned flight path.

1812 GMT (2:12 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 5 minutes, 20 seconds. The rocket is 117 miles in altitude, some 403 miles downrange and traveling over 11,150 mph already.

1815 GMT (2:15 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 5 minutes. Centaur engine readings look good as this burn gets underway.

1814 GMT (2:14 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 4 minutes, 25 seconds. Centaur has ignited! The RL10 engine is up and running at full thrust for its first of two planned firings today.

1814 GMT (2:14 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 4 minutes, 32 seconds. The two-halves of the Atlas 5 rocket nose cone encapsulating the spacecraft have separated.

1814 GMT (2:14 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 4 minutes, 14 seconds. The Atlas 5's Common Core Booster first stage has been jettisoned, and the Centaur upper stage's liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen systems are being readied for engine start.

1814 GMT (2:14 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 4 minutes, 6 seconds. BECO. Booster Engine Cutoff is confirmed as the RD-180 powerplant on the first stage completes its burn. Standing by to fire the retro thrusters and separate the spent stage.

1813 GMT (2:13 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 3 minutes, 50 seconds. The vehicle is accelerating at 5 g's.

1813 GMT (2:13 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 3 minutes, 25 seconds. The rocket now weighs only a quarter of what it did at liftoff.

1813 GMT (2:13 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 3 minutes. RD-180 is performing well as the rocket climbs away from the planet.

1812 GMT (2:12 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 2 minutes, 45 seconds. Reaction control system has been activated.

1812 GMT (2:12 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 2 minutes. The rocket is tracking on course.

1811 GMT (2:11 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 1 minutes, 45 seconds. The RD-180 main engine continues to fire normally, burning a mixture of highly refined kerosene and liquid oxygen.

1811 GMT (2:11 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 95 seconds. Maximum dynamic pressure.

1811 GMT (2:11 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 84 seconds. Mach 1.

1811 GMT (2:11 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 60 seconds. One minute into the ascent. It will take 43 minutes for the two-stage rocket to deploy the Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous-1 satellite into the desired orbit.

1810 GMT (2:10 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 40 seconds. The thunderous roar from the Atlas is reverberating across the Cape. Good engine performance is reported from the rocket.

1810 GMT (2:10 p.m. EDT)
T+plus 15 seconds. The vehicle has cleared the towers at Complex 41 on 860,000 pounds of thrust from the RD-180 main engine.

1810 GMT (2:10 p.m. EDT)
LIFTOFF! Liftoff of the Atlas 5 rocket and SBIRS GEO-1, beginning a new era for surveillance sentinels in space.

[Liss]

Второе включение. Репортаж продолжается, видео с мультиком тоже.

[Liss]

T+28:14. Есть выключение "Центавра", есть геопереходная орбиты.

[Salo]

Есть отделение КА.

[Salo]

http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/PhotoGallery/Photo_gallery.shtml

Изображения кликабельны:

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/launch/

[Salo]

http://space.flatoday.net/

[Salo]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/launchpad/

[Аля]

написала как раз по этому проекту
http://spacejur.livejournal.com/76758.html

если в общих чертах:
1. открытость - зачетная!
2. у российских СМИ еще есть иллюзия, что у нас все равно лучше.
3. у нас все куда хуже (

[Sharicoff]

Вроде бы прибыл на геостационар.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2011/0524_ss_sbirsorbits.html

Next Generation Missile Warning Satellite Successfully Reaches Orbit
SBIRS GEO-1 Spacecraft to Deliver Unprecedented Infrared Surveillance for the Nation

DENVER, May 24th, 2011 -- The first Lockheed Martin-built Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) spacecraft has successfully reached its intended orbit and is performing as required following its successful May 7 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

Photo: http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/ssc/PressRelease/sbirs_launch_OrbitRaisejpg.jpg

After launch, the U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin SBIRS ground team executed a series of six Liquid Apogee Engine (LAE) burns to propel the spacecraft to its geosynchronous orbital slot. The team then deployed the satellite's solar arrays, light shade and antenna wing assemblies in preparation for activating its sophisticated infrared sensors and the start of early orbit testing.

SBIRS GEO-1 is the most technologically advanced military infrared satellite ever developed and will enhance early warning of missile launches around the globe, support the nation's ballistic missile defense system, greatly expand technical intelligence gathering capability, and bolster situational awareness for warfighters on the battlefield.

"Successfully reaching orbit and conducting deployments is a tremendous milestone for the SBIRS GEO-1 spacecraft. Thanks to a very talented and dedicated team, this first-of-its-kind spacecraft has performed flawlessly," said Brig Gen (select) Roger W. Teague, the director of the U.S. Air Force's Infrared Space Systems Directorate. "We anticipate continued success as we progress towards payload activation in the near future."

SBIRS GEO-1 includes highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors that will deliver improved infrared sensitivity and a reduction in area revisit times over the current constellation. The scanning sensor will provide a wide area surveillance of missile launches and natural phenomena across the earth, while the staring sensor will be used to observe smaller areas of interest with superior sensitivity.

"We are very pleased with the performance of SBIRS GEO-1 and we are looking forward to delivering unprecedented infrared surveillance capabilities for the nation," said Jeff Smith, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) mission area.

The SBIRS team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

Lockheed Martin's original SBIRS contract includes HEO payloads, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data. The team is also 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 global security company that employs about 126,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/data/assets/ssc/PressRelease/sbirs_launch_OrbitRaisejpg.jpg

[Dopler]

написала как раз по этому проекту
http://spacejur.livejournal.com/76758.html

если в общих чертах:
1. открытость - зачетная!
2. у российских СМИ еще есть иллюзия, что у нас все равно лучше.
3. у нас все куда хуже (

Крутые данные ничего не скажеш :lol:
полная открытость. Девочка, а ты знаешь, что в США есть более 50 организаций с годовым буджетом в 75 млрд. баксов для проверки инфы на предмет раскрытия гостайн, и эту инфу надо заранее представлять за месяц. Кстати аппаратура сбирс давно стоит у них на КА Trumpet Follow On, посмотри данные европейских каталогов, ну есть здесь рекламный ход локхида и пентагона, а то запуск КА СПРАУ был у них неудачный, да и бабки урезают, закрывая программы, вот и расстарались.
Да, а скока спутников США запустило под прикрытием других запусков, при этом не дав информации даже в каталоги европейских союзников. А скока спутников летает с одними заявлеными целями, а выполняет другие. Ну и т.д. В общем не надо дурить народ.

[Dude]

Аля, это называется OPSEC, в частности они не тратят усилия чтобы скрыть информацию, что не имеет ценности и не вредит их операциям, и концентрируются на скрытии важных для безопасности и хода операций вещей. В Союзе секретность размазывалась тонким и часто неэффективным слоем, доходя до абсурдности, вы правильно обратили внимание что в РФ и СНГ вообще с гос. политикой относительно правил распространения инфы туго, теперь всё в основном зависит от политики конкретной организации, и вот и получается, что одни что-то секретят, а другие же публикуют на эту тему отчеты.

[Брабонт]

SBIRS GEO-1 Satellite to Provide a Quantum Leap in Infrared Surveillance Capabilities

DENVER, July 7th, 2011 -- The first Lockheed Martin [NYSE]-built Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) spacecraft beamed down its first infrared image on June 21 to the SBIRS ground station. Following its May 7 launch, the satellite is performing as expected, and is now undergoing early orbit testing.

[Имxотеп]

на днях сабж снялся с точки стояния над США и поехал на запад, видимо будет работать где-то в Азии (Китай, Ближний Восток?).

[Salo]

http://www.militaryparitet.com/perevodnie/data/ic_perevodnie/2196/

США развертывают самую совершенную в мире группировку спутников инфракрасной разведки и наблюдения[/size]
14 февраля 2012 г.

«Военный Паритет». Как сообщает сегодня газета The Sacramento Bee, ВВС США начинают полноценное использование геостационарного спутника GEO-1 инфракрасной системы космического базирования SBIRS (Space Based Infrared System). В настоящее время аппарат, запущенный 7 мая 2011 года и передавшего первые данные 21 июня того же года, проходит через строгий сертификационный процесс и переводится на окончательную целевую орбиту.

Этот спутник, построенный компанией Lockheed Martin, позволит повысить способность вооруженных сил США обнаруживать пуски ракет с любого района земного шара, будет интегрирован в систему ПРО, значительно увеличит возможности космической разведки и ситуационную осведомленность боевых подразделений на поле боя.  

GEO-1 является технологически наиболее продвинутым аппаратом в своем классе, когда-либо разработанным в мире. Спутник обладает сложной системой сканирования с повышенной инфракрасной чувствительностью датчиков. Аппарат может обнаруживать как пуски ракет, так и наблюдать за ходом стихийных бедствий. Испытания показали, что инфракрасная система показывает характеристики, никогда ранее не достигнутые.

 

«Мы с нетерпением ждем полноценной оперативной работы этого спутника, который предоставит для нашей страны новые возможности инфракрасного наблюдения», говорит директор управления Инфракрасных систем наблюдения ВВС США (Infrared Space Systems Directorate) полковник Джим Планокс (Jim Planeaux).  

С учетом опыта эксплуатации GEO-1 команда разработчиков создает еще более совершенный спутник GEO-2. Недавно сотрудники компании завершили этап экологический испытаний нового аппарата, предстоит работа по проведению окончательных заводских настроек спутника и проведение завершающих предстартовых испытаний.

На первом этапе система SBIRS будет представлять собой два высокоэллиптических спутника, наземные средства приема и обработки данных. В дальнейшем планируется запуск третьего и четвертого спутников. Производство этих аппаратов идет полным ходом, ставится цель снижения стоимости новых спутников. В частности, ведется сокращение численности производственного персонала для достижения более быстрого и эффективного перехода от этапа разработки до производства. Головным оператором системы SBIRS является Космическое командование ВВС США.
 
http://www.sacbee.com/2012/02/13/4261080/us-air-forces-new-missile-warning.html
 

рисунок GEO-1
aerospace-technology.com[/size]

[instml]

Certification work continues on new missile warning craft

The lead spacecraft in the U.S. military's new generation of missile early-warning satellites is delivering better-than-expected results as exhaustive testing continues 22,300 miles above the planet.

The Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous-1 satellite, SBIRS GEO 1 for short, was launched into space atop a ULA Atlas 5 rocket on May 7, 2011 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Within weeks, the craft maneuvered itself into the proper orbital position, deployed various appendages and commenced a rigorous checkout period that remains in work today to prove its capabilities before the satellite is entrusted for missile-launch detection.

"We've been extremely pleased with the performance of this first-of-its-kind spacecraft," said Col. James Planeaux, director of the Air Force's Infrared Space Systems Directorate. "We fully expect GEO-1 to enter services as an invaluable military asset that will help protect our nation and its allies for many years to come."

The Air Force reports that testing has found SBIRS GEO 1, valued at more than $1.2 billion, can spot targets 25 percent dimmer than required with an intensity measurement that is 60 percent more accurate than specifications. What's more, the accuracy for payload pointing is nine times more precise than required.

"This satellite is delivering outstanding data to the user community and is performing exceptionally well as it proceeds through its rigorous certification process," said Jeff Smith, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Overhead Persistent Infrared mission area. "The government and industry team is focused on executing a smooth certification process and delivering the full value of SBIRS to the warfighter."

Lockheed Martin is building a fleet of SBIRS GEO satellites to replace the legacy Defense Support Program warning satellites. DSP craft rotate in orbit, enabling their infrared telescopes to scan the planet in a windshield wiper-motion looking for heat signatures of missile plumes.

SBIRS GEO does that scanning, plus includes an addition instrument to stare at a particular part of the globe for signs of threat.

Testing between the new satellite and fine-tuning its ground support network should be completed in May, officials said, and the craft will work through a trial period for final evaluation this fall.

"This first GEO satellite is expected to be certified for operations by U.S. Strategic Command by the end of 2012," the Air Force says.

Originally conceived in the Cold War to focus on intercontinental ballistic missiles, the warning system has evolved to today's short-range missile threats. SBIRS brings new technologies to make quicker detections of fainter objects.

The constellation of satellites continuously monitor the globe to alert the national leadership and battlefield commanders of missile launches, and SBIRS is designed to spot events quicker and decimate the warnings faster than ever before.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/atlas/av022/testing.html

[instml]

Key SBIRS Capability is Delayed

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force will not be able to fully utilize a key capability aboard its new generation of missile warning satellites until at least 2016 because the associated ground-system software will not be completed until then, according to a top service official.

The issue affects the speed with which the Air Force can assess and provide appropriate warnings of missile launches around the world.

Gen. William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, told reporters here March 22 that some of the ground software for the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) missile warning satellites has proved more complex than anticipated. In addition, the Air Force ran into "money issues" on the SBIRS program that led it to focus on getting the first satellite into orbit while deferring work on the ground segment, he said.

The first dedicated SBIRS satellite, dubbed GEO-1, was placed into geosynchronous orbit in May 2011 and is expected to begin operations before the end of the year. Each geosynchronous SBIRS satellite has two main infrared sensors: a scanning sensor that sweeps over large swaths of territory watching for missile launches and a staring sensor that stays focused on a smaller area to provide immediate notification of launches.

The software to exploit the staring sensor data in real time — military parlance for immediately — will not be ready until 2016 or 2017, Shelton said at a Defense Writers Group breakfast. In the meantime, he said, the service is taking down data from the staring sensor and sending it to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for analysis, he said.

"We are going to continue to investigate the possibilities of taking advantage of all of the SBIRS capabilities in a much more tactical way over the next few years here," Shelton said.

NASIC officials are analyzing the data from the first SBIRS satellite every day, he said.

The SBIRS constellation will consist of four dedicated satellites in geosynchronous orbit as well as infrared sensors hosted aboard two classified satellites in highly elliptical orbit. The hosted sensors are in orbit and the second of the dedicated satellites is scheduled to launch this spring.

Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md., is prime contractor on the SBIRS program, with responsibility for both the space and ground segments.

In a written response to questions, Lockheed Martin spokesman Michael Friedman said the GEO-1 satellite is undergoing certification that will culminate in real-time availability of its scanning-sensor data by the end of the year. "As part of the program's baseline, Lockheed Martin is currently on schedule to provide a ground system upgrade to enable starer data utilization for the real-time mission. Lockheed Martin is aware that the outstanding performance of the GEO-1 starer has sparked increased demand for the data throughout the user community, and we are committed to delivering for the warfighter."

http://www.spacenews.com/military/120322-key-sbirs-capability-delayed.html

[instml]

Advanced SBIRS Sensor Capability Will Not be Available Before 2016

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force deferred a key capability on its new generation of missile warning satellites in order to focus its resources on getting the first dedicated spacecraft in the long-delayed and overbudget system built and into orbit, a senior service official said.

Gen. William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, said the service will not be able to fully exploit data from the staring sensors aboard the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellites until 2016 or 2017. The issue will affect the speed with which the Air Force can assess and provide appropriate warnings of missile launches around the world.

Speaking March 22 at a Defense Writers Group breakfast here, Shelton said the Air Force ran into "money issues" on the SBIRS program that led it to focus on getting the first satellite into orbit while deferring work on the ground segment. Moreover, he said, some of the ground software for the SBIRS satellites has proved more complex than anticipated.

The first dedicated SBIRS satellite, dubbed GEO-1, was placed into geosynchronous orbit in May 2011 — nearly a decade behind its original schedule — and is expected to begin operations before the end of 2012. Each geosynchronous SBIRS satellite has two main infrared sensors: a scanning sensor that sweeps over large swaths of territory watching for missile launches, and a staring sensor that can be trained constantly on a smaller area of interest to provide immediate notification of launches.

Until the new software is ready, Shelton said, the Air Force will not be able to exploit the staring sensor data in real time, meaning upon collection. In the meantime, he said, the service is downlinking the staring sensor data and sending it to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center (NASIC) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for analysis, he said.

"We are going to continue to investigate the possibilities of taking advantage of all of the SBIRS capabilities in a much more tactical way over the next few years here," Shelton said.

NASIC officials are analyzing the data from the first SBIRS satellite every day, he said.

The SBIRS constellation will consist of four dedicated satellites in geosynchronous orbit as well as infrared sensors hosted aboard two classified satellites in highly elliptical orbit. The hosted sensors are in orbit and the second of the dedicated satellites is scheduled to launch this spring.

Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md., is prime contractor on the SBIRS program, with responsibility for both the space and ground segments.

In a written response to questions, Lockheed Martin spokesman Michael Friedman said the GEO-1 satellite is undergoing certification that will culminate in real-time availability of its scanning-sensor data by the end of the year. "As part of the program's baseline, Lockheed Martin is currently on schedule to provide a ground system upgrade to enable starer data utilization for the real-time mission,"Friedman said. "Lockheed Martin is aware that the outstanding performance of the GEO-1 starer has sparked increased demand for the data throughout the user community, and we are committed to delivering for the warfighter."

Operational details about the SBIRS program are sensitive, but Air Force officials have spoken glowingly about the performance to date of the GEO-1 satellite as well as the two sensors in elliptical orbit, both of which are operational. But the development program was infamous for its lengthy development and skyrocketing costs, which went from some $3 billion when the prime contract was awarded to more than $10 billion as of a few years ago.

The Air Force considered dropping the staring sensor from the satellites as a cost saving move but ultimately scrapped the idea.

The staring sensor represents a brand new capability; the legacy Defense Support Program satellites, which date back to the 1970s and remain the backbone of the U.S. early warning system, have only the scanning sensor.

The SBIRS scanning sensor has shorter revisit times in its field of view than the Defense Support Program sensor, according to an Air Force fact sheet.

SBIRS is one of several U.S. military space programs whose ground and satellite systems are out of sync, a longstanding issue that limits the new capabilities advertised for next-generation systems. Among the others is the U.S. Navy's Mobile User Objective System, a new generation of mobile communications satellites that began launching in February.

"We're seeing too many programs that the user equipment is just arriving years later than the satellites, and you really have a situation where you're wasting expensive capability in space when that happens," Christina Chaplain, director of acquisition and sourcing management at the U.S. Government Accountability Office, told lawmakers at a March 21 hearing.

Chaplain said developers and users of satellite ground systems should "understand the complexity of what they are trying to achieve when they set out to do it." Closer oversight by the Defense Department and Congress also would mitigate the program, she said.

The Government Accountability Office released a report at the hearing that noted that the production of the third and fourth dedicated SBIRS satellites is a year behind schedule due to technical challenges, parts obsolescence issues and testing failures. The report says the cost of those two satellites has risen by $438 million.

http://www.spacenews.com/military/120323-sbirs-sensor-not-available.html

[Pol]

Как-то не вяжется с 2 предыдущими постами...

http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=2076540567

March 19, 2012

USAF's SBIR Satellite Better Than Best Report

The satellite is currently undergoing rigorous certification processes, and is meeting or exceeding performance requirements...

The first Space Based Infrared Systems geosynchronous Earth orbit satellite, currently undergoing a rigorous operational certification process, is meeting or exceeding performance requirements, and on track to be delivered into operations.

Within two months after launch, SBIRS began sharing initial GEO-1 satellite data with technical intelligence mission partners in order to enable early assessments of sensor performance.

On-orbit performance of the first GEO-1 satellite has proven superb.  At the payload level, the GEO sensors are detecting targets 25 percent dimmer than requirements with an intensity measurement that is 60 percent more accurate than specifications.  The payload pointing is nine times more precise than required, which is a key confidence measure for achieving a system level line-of-sight accuracy well within specification.  

The SBIRS GEO-1 satellite includes sophisticated scanning and staring sensors that deliver improved infrared sensitivity and target area scan rates over the current constellation.  The scanning sensor provides wide area surveillance of missile launches and infrared phenomena across the earth, while the staring sensor can be used to observe smaller areas of interest with superior sensitivity and revisit time.  

While the satellite and its respective ground systems continue final system tuning through May of this year, interim mission performance results indicate that the system already demonstrates the ability to meet more than 90 percent of Air Force Space Command's performance requirements for operational use.  The remaining performance refinements are on track to be completed prior to the formal testing campaign slated to begin in June.  

"We've been extremely pleased with the performance of this first-of-its-kind spacecraft," said Col. James Planeaux, director of the Infrared Space Systems Directorate.  "We fully expect GEO-1 to enter services as an invaluable military asset that will help protect our nation and its allies for many years to come."

Live GEO-1 data will be included in the nation's missile warning and theater event networks during a trial period and operation utility evaluation this fall.  This first GEO satellite is expected to be certified for operations by U.S. Strategic Command by the end of 2012.

As one of the nation's highest priority space programs, SBIRS delivers global, persistent, taskable infrared surveillance capabilities to meet 21st-century demands for early warning of missile launches and simultaneous support to other critical missions including missile defense, technical intelligence, and battlespace awareness.  

The SBIRS architecture features a mix of GEO satellites, payloads in highly elliptical Earth orbit, and associated ground hardware and software that provides a timely, accurate and clear infrared view of any region of interest around the globe during peacetime and all levels of conflict.  The GEO satellites replace and improve upon the legacy Defense Support Program satellites, offering enhanced sensor flexibility and sensitivity to provide global, taskable, 24/7 infrared surveillance capabilities to support the warfighter.

The SBIRS development team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California.  Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, California, is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, California, as the payload integrator.  The 14th Air Force operates the SBIRS system.

[instml]

Как-то не вяжется с 2 предыдущими постами...

http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=2076540567

March 19, 2012

Посмотрите на даты новостей...

Key SBIRS Capability is Delayed
Thu, 22 March, 2012
Advanced SBIRS Sensor Capability Will Not be Available Before 2016
Fri, 23 March, 2012

[Pol]

Как-то не вяжется с 2 предыдущими постами...

http://www.satnews.com/cgi-bin/story.cgi?number=2076540567

March 19, 2012

Посмотрите на даты новостей...

Key SBIRS Capability is Delayed
Thu, 22 March, 2012
Advanced SBIRS Sensor Capability Will Not be Available Before 2016
Fri, 23 March, 2012

Увидели объем поступаемой информации и удивились... И скзали - ну не потянет наземный сегмент, не потянет...

P.S. Я не ерничаю, иронизирую так. Под MUOS провели модернизацию по-моему всех наземных станций (стационарных)

[instml]

U.S. Lawmakers Seek To Accelerate SBIRS Capability

WASHINGTON — House appropriators recommended boosting the U.S. Air Force's proposed missile warning satellite budget next year in order to make one of the system's most advanced capabilities available sooner than currently planned.

In its markup of the 2013 Pentagon spending bill, the House Appropriations defense subcommittee allocated $516 million to the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS), $68 million more than the Air Force requested. The bulk of the increase would go toward ground systems needed to process data collected by the satellites' so-called staring sensors.

Each geosynchronous-orbiting SBIRS satellite has a scanning sensor that covers large swaths of territory in a sweeping motion and a staring sensor that is trained on smaller areas of interest. The staring sensor provides more-immediate notification and analysis of missile launches, which gives U.S. forces more time to react.

The Air Force disclosed this year that work on the ground systems needed to process the staring sensor data products had been deferred so that more SBIRS program money could be funneled to the launch of the first dedicated satellite, which was several years behind schedule. The first in a planned constellation of four SBIRS spacecraft in geosynchronous orbit — the system also has sensors hosted aboard classified spacecraft in highly elliptical orbit — was successfully launched in May 2011 and is slated to begin operations this year.

The Air Force does not expect to fully exploit data from the SBIRS staring sensors until at least 2016 because the associated ground system software will not be completed until then, Gen. William Shelton, commander of Air Force Space Command, told reporters here March 22.

The staring sensor represents a brand new capability; the legacy Defense Support Program satellites, which remain the backbone of the U.S. early warning system, have only the scanning sensor.

Currently, according to Shelton, the Air Force is downlinking the staring sensor data and sending them to the National Air and Space Intelligence Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for analysis.

The appropriations panel allocated $50 million of the proposed SBIRS funding increase to speed up the "ground segment automated sensor tasking," which will allow the scanning sensor and the starting sensor to cue off each other and track missiles more accurately, according to report language posted May 16 on the full House Appropriations Committee website.

"Further, based on the current launch schedule of the various SBIRS system components, the Committee is concerned that the ground segment needs enhancement to command and control the projected constellation," the report states.

The second dedicated SBIRS satellite is slated to launch this summer.

Meanwhile, the House appropriators also want the Pentagon to examine whether it might save money by buying more satellites at a time.

SBIRS prime contractor Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Sunnyvale, Calif., currently is under contract to deliver four dedicated spacecraft. The Air Force's SBIRS budget request includes initial funding to procure an additional two spacecraft under what is sometimes referred to as a block-buy strategy, which is designed to save money in part by allowing the company to order components in bulk.

The subcommittee recommended directing the Air Force, secretary of defense and Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation Office to prepare a report comparing the cost of buying three SBIRS and three Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellites with the cost of buying two of each type as now planned. The subcommittee characterized Air Force cost estimates for the fifth and sixth satellites in both systems as "extremely conservative" and asked that the Pentagon report be delivered within 30 days of enactment of the defense spending bill.

Lockheed Martin also is prime contractor on the Advanced Extremely High Frequency system, a constellation of geostationary-orbiting satellites able to provide secure, jam-proof communications to U.S. forces under any conditions.

http://www.spacenews.com/military/120517-lawmakers-seek-accelerate-sbirs-capability.html