Nation’s New Missile Warning Satellite Delivers First Infrared Imagery

July 8, 2011

The first Lockheed Martin-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.

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Troubled Space-Based Infrared Satellite Program Finally Gets Off the Ground

June 16, 2011

SBIRS-High and SBIRS-Low.

At one time the two missile defense satellite systems were notorious examples of over budget, technologically challenged military space programs.

SBIRS — space-based infrared systems — was conceived in the early 1990s as the next-generation of spacecraft that could not only warn when intercontinental or theater ballistic rockets were being launched, but track them accurately enough to possibly shoot them down with a missile defense system.

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