That article says FY 2018, which means the payload could fly in 2017.
The interesting thing is, that this time an Atlas-V(411) instead of the Atlas-V(401) was orderedSBIRS-GEO has either gained some additional mass or an different orbital injection profile will be used.https://govtribe.com/project/ja-15-37-for-space-based-infrared-systems-sbirs-geo-flight-4-launch-services
Thanks. That article says that SBIRS GEO-4 will launch in 2016, while SBIRS GEO-3 has been put in storage and will launch in 2017. That doesn't really make much sense to me and doesn't fit with the earlier information, so I think the 2016 date may be a typo.
SBIRS GEO-4 http://www.losangeles.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123461053
Can anyone clarify (confirm) whether GEO-3 and GEO-4 swapped launch slots or not? The reason that I ask is that there is a patch available (ostensibly for GEO-3) that clearly reads GEO-IV in roman numerals. Was this patch released in error, or does it represent the actual payload? Forgive me for playing devils advocate...
Two satellite launches planned for this fall #AEHF4 and #SBIRSGEO4 are being delayed to 2018 due to separate issues spaceflightnow.com/2017/08/02/two…
Separately and unrelated to AEHF, the SBIRS GEO Flight 4 launch is being delayed due to a “SBIRS program prioritization decision.”It is tentatively rescheduled for launch on Jan. 18, 2018.
I happen to be in florida on the 18th with nothing better to do... Does anyone have launch window information on this flight?
<snip>2018NET January 19 - SBIRS-GEO 4 - Atlas V 411 (AV-076) - Canaveral SLC-41 - 00:40-01:20Changes on December 5th