U.S. Air Force’s Second Missile Warning Satellite Completes Major Environmental Test at Lockheed Martin

Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) has successfully completed acoustic testing of the second Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-2) spacecraft.

United States DoD contracts for July 19, 2011

CONTRACTS

MISSILE DEFENSE AGENCY

The Missile Defense Agency is announcing the award of a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification, option exercise, under contract HQ0147-09-C-0007 to The Boeing Co., Huntsville, Ala. The total value of this contract modification is $36,670,439, increasing the total contract value to $696,947,325. Under this contract modification, the contractor will manage the Ground-based Midcourse (GMD) Defense Weapon System sustainment and operations support to include system sustainment, training, and operations support of the GMD mission assets. The work will be performed in Fort Greely, Alaska, and Colorado Springs, Colo. The performance period is from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30, 2011. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The MDA, Huntsville, Ala., is the contracting activity.

Missile Defense Satellite Transmits Initial Picture

The first of four satellites to be deployed for the planned U.S. Space-Based Infrared System last month transmitted its initial infrared photographic data to ground operators, project contractor Lockheed Martin said on Thursday (see GSN, May 9).

Nation’s New Missile Warning Satellite Delivers First Infrared Imagery

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.

City of Boulder Recognizes Northrop Grumman for Contributions to National Security and the Community

The City of Boulder issued a proclamation recognizing Northrop Grumman Corporation for its continuing contributions to national security and to the Colorado economy as a provider of leading-edge defense technology.

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

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.

MDAA Alert: Lift Off – Video of SBIRS GEO-1 Launch

Atlas-V with SBIRS GEO-1 Payload

Dear Members and Friends,

The first satellite of the next generation of the Defense Support Program (DSP) was launched into space at Cape Canaveral, Florida. This new satellite can detect and process a diverse variety of heat sources, including missile launches, defining and distinguishing the type of missile and where these missiles are heading in an extremely short period of time.

Air Force’s First Dedicated SBIRS Satellite Carried to Orbit

A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas 5 launches the first dedicated SBIRS satellite.

The U.S. Air Force successfully launched its first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous missile warning satellite May 7 aboard an Atlas 5 rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., the service announced May 7.

Friday Launch to Upgrade US Missile Defenses

SBIRS GEO-1 encapsulation.

The United States military will take a big step toward upgrading the nation’s missile-defense system this week, when it launches the first in a constellation of next-generation surveillance satellites.

On Friday, the Air Force will launch GEO-1, the first of four new satellites planned under the Space-Based Infrared Systems (SBIRS) program. SBIRS will significantly improve the country’s missile-warning and missile-defense capabilities, and it will also provide enhanced technical intelligence to fighters on the ground, Air Force officials said.