LIVE: Atlas V 401 - SBIRS-GEO 3 - Canaveral SLC-41 - January 20, 2017

[jacqmans]

The next satellite of the U.S. Air Force’s Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) at Lockheed Martin’s Sunnyvale, California, satellite manufacturing facility prior to its scheduled 2016 launch. SBIRS GEO Flight 3 is the latest addition to a family of satellites that delivers timely, reliable and accurate missile warning and infrared surveillance information to the President of the United States, the Secretary of Defense, combatant commanders, the intelligence community and other key decision makers.

More: www.lockheedmartin.com/sbirs

[russianhalo117]

Title: The U.S. Air Force's Next SBIRS Missile Warning Satellite Ships to Cape Canaveral for October Launch

Date(s): 5-Aug-2016 12:00 Noon

GEO Flight 3 satellite uses infrared surveillance to provide early missile warning for the U.S. military

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., Aug. 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered the next Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) satellite to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Aug. 2, ahead of its October launch.

SBIRS includes a combination of satellites in GEO orbit, hosted payloads in Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO), and ground hardware and software. The data provided by SBIRS enhances the military's ability to detect missile launches, supports ballistic missile defense, expands technical intelligence gathering, and bolsters situational awareness on the battlefield.

"SBIRS GEO satellites are our nation's missile warning sentinels and are critical assets to the U.S. military's continually evolving mission," said David Sheridan, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Overhead Persistent Infrared systems mission area. "With GEO Flight 3's successful testing and delivery to the launch site, we're expanding the military's ability to receive timely, reliable and accurate missile warning and infrared surveillance information."

Lockheed Martin manufactured SBIRS GEO Flight 3 at its Sunnyvale, California, facility. For its trip to Florida, the satellite was loaded aboard a C-5 Galaxy aircraft at nearby Moffett Federal Air Field. It will launch aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket.

The next SBIRS satellite, GEO Flight 4, is in storage and will undergo final assembly, integration and test operations prior to its planned 2017 launch. SBIRS GEO-5 and GEO-6, which are currently in production, incorporate the new modernized A2100 spacecraft to dramatically reduce costs and cycle times while increasing the potential to incorporate future, modernized sensor suites.

The SBIRS development team is led by the Remote Sensing Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, California. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, California, is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, Azusa, California, as the payload integrator. The 460th Space Wing, Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado, operates the SBIRS system.

For additional SBIRS information, photos and video visit: www.lockheedmartin.com/sbirs.

Media Contact:
Lauren Fair, +1 301-204-7334; [email protected]

[tehwkd]

Isn't it SBIRS GEO-4 or SBIRS GEO Flight 3? http://spacenews.com/sbirs-geo-4-satellite-will-leapfrog-geo-3-to-launchpad/

[ZachS09]

Isn't it SBIRS GEO-4 or SBIRS GEO Flight 3? http://spacenews.com/sbirs-geo-4-satellite-will-leapfrog-geo-3-to-launchpad/

The mission designation is SBIRS GEO-3, but the satellite is codenamed SV4.

SV3 will fly as SBIRS GEO-4 in the future.

[zubenelgenubi]

Lockheed Martin's SBIRS GEO factsheet:
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/space/documents/
sbirs/SBIRS%20GEO%20Factsheet%20(2015).pdf

[zubenelgenubi]

From the 18th Air Force...
http://www.18af.amc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/916997/travis-c-5m-delivers-sbirs-geo-flight-3-satellite

Travis C-5M delivers SBIRS GEO Flight 3 satellite

By Staff Sgt. Charles Rivezzo, 60th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs / Published August 10, 2016

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. – A C-5M Super Galaxy assisted in the completion of a major milestone for the U.S. Air Force’s Space Based Infrared Systems program, successfully delivering a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite Flight 3 to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, Aug. 2.

The 22nd Airlift Squadron, one of the only operational Air Force units tasked with transporting space-related cargo, completed the cross-country flight after uploading the satellite at Moffett Federal Airfield, California.

“Aside from presidential support and contingency operations, this is one of the highest priority missions we are tasked with,” said 1st Lt. Jeremy Dunbar, 22 AS pilot and co-pilot on the mission.

Squadron officials said that the delivery of the SBRIS GEO Flight 3 was conducted on a strict timeline ensuring the projected launch date remained uncompromised.

To comply with the timeline, the 22 AS strategically placed personnel at both departure and arrival locations, where squadron loadmasters efficiently assisted Lockheed Martin officials with uploading and downloading operations – a task typically requiring more than double the amount of time needed for standard cargo loading due to the sensitive equipment.

Although Travis Air Force Base normally employs its specially modified C-5M Space Cargo Modification (SCM) airframe for transporting satellites, the C-5M Super Galaxy was able to successfully accommodate the SBIRS GEO Flight 3 satellite’s container. The container used for transportation was a refurbished version of the same container used to transport the Hubble Space Telescope.

Capt. Corey Curtis, 22 AS pilot and aircraft commander of the mission explained that during flight the aircrew must maintain stringent parameters to ensure safe transport of the sensitive satellite valued at $1.2 billion.

“There are certain parameters that we have to keep the satellite within while inside the cargo bay,” said Curtis. “Primarily it’s about keeping the flight and landing as smooth as possible and ensuring that we stay within the maximum allowable gravitational limits that the satellite can handle.”

Additionally, Curtis complimented the efforts of the unit’s loadmasters for ensuring limitations were not exceeded in terms of center of gravity.

“Our loadmasters did a fantastic job,” he said. “The satellite abnormally changed our center of gravity to one we don’t normally fly with, but our loadmasters kept everything within limits making sure the cargo was delivered safely, efficiently and without damage.”

According to a recent Air Force press release, the delivery of GEO Flight 3 sets the path for final checkout of the space vehicle before launch.

“GEO Flight 3 delivery and launch marks a significant milestone in fulfilling our commitment to the missile-warning community, missile defense and the intelligence community, it’s an important asset for the warfighter and will be employed for years to come,” said Lt. Gen. Samuel Greaves, Space and Missile Systems Center commander and Air Force program executive officer for space, within the release.

“Safe transport of the SBIRS satellite was paramount and the total government and contractor team worked tirelessly to ensure mission success,” Greaves added.

The SBIRS constellation is designed to replace the legacy Defense Support Program satellite constellation. SBIRS will continue to provide significantly enhanced capabilities to support missile warning, missile defenses, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence missions.
The satellite launch is scheduled for early October.

***
My 1st question--the C-5M landed on the Cape Skid Strip?

My 2nd question--what is the path of the satellite and payload?
Northrop Grumman manufactured the payload, but where?  Is it the former TRW Space Park in Redondo Beach, CA?
Satellite manufacture, payload integration and testing was done at the Lockheed-Martin Sunnyvale, CA location.
The satellite was transported to Moffett Field and flown from there to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

[Jim]

1. yes to Skid Strip
2. Yes to Space Park

[yokem55]

Jeff Foust passed along this tweet from the SMC Commander:

Delaying SBIRS GEO-3 fueling & Oct.3 launch due to issue on another non-SBIRS satellite. Evaluating. New dates TBD.

Is this fallout from the MUOS 5 issue?

[russianhalo117]

Jeff Foust passed along this tweet from the SMC Commander:

Delaying SBIRS GEO-3 fueling & Oct.3 launch due to issue on another non-SBIRS satellite. Evaluating. New dates TBD.

Is this fallout from the MUOS 5 issue?

potentially since it uses the same bus.

[zubenelgenubi]

Jeff Foust passed along this tweet from the SMC Commander:

Delaying SBIRS GEO-3 fueling & Oct.3 launch due to issue on another non-SBIRS satellite. Evaluating. New dates TBD.

Is this fallout from the MUOS 5 issue?

potentially since it uses the same bus.

If so, we may see delays in the delivery and launch of other A2100M satellites scheduled in the next several months, such as AEHF-4 and GPS III-1.

[Jim]

GOES-R too

[Newton_V]

Jeff Foust passed along this tweet from the SMC Commander:

Delaying SBIRS GEO-3 fueling & Oct.3 launch due to issue on another non-SBIRS satellite. Evaluating. New dates TBD.

Is this fallout from the MUOS 5 issue?

potentially since it uses the same bus.

If so, we may see delays in the delivery and launch of other A2100M satellites scheduled in the next several months, such as AEHF-4 and GPS III-1.

although GPS III slipped well before MUOS-5 launched...

[psionedge]

Has LM moved completely to the BT-4 LAE for the A2100 platform? The A2100 wikipedia page claims to use a LEROS LAE out the UK for SBIRS 1 & 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LEROS

The BT-4 LAE from IHI in Japan does call out use in AEHF and later MUOS flights. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BT-4_(rocket_engine)

[vapour_nudge]

Jeff Foust passed along this tweet from the SMC Commander:

Delaying SBIRS GEO-3 fueling & Oct.3 launch due to issue on another non-SBIRS satellite. Evaluating. New dates TBD.

Is this fallout from the MUOS 5 issue?

potentially since it uses the same bus.

If so, we may see delays in the delivery and launch of other A2100M satellites scheduled in the next several months, such as AEHF-4 and GPS III-1.

although GPS III slipped well before MUOS-5 launched...

Newton_v is there anything available that can be moved up to take advantage of those unused slots?

[baldusi]

Has LM moved completely to the BT-4 LAE for the A2100 platform? The A2100 wikipedia page claims to use a LEROS LAE out the UK for SBIRS 1 & 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LEROS

The BT-4 LAE from IHI in Japan does call out use in AEHF and later MUOS flights. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BT-4_(rocket_engine)

Well, as far as I can tell (I wrote the Wikipedia article on the BT-4 and curated the LEROS), they appear to have switched the the IHI, at least for the militarized. The first AEHF failure was attributed to a propellant line block from a cleaning rag left in the piping.
Now, as far as I've been able to research, the IHI BT-4 uses Moog propellant valves. And I understand that they use Orbital ATK tanks. The LAE are pressure fed, and thus are mechanically very simple devices. What's complex is the propulsion system. It has propellant storage, pressurization, transfer, valving, control lines, instrumentation, etc. A failure could be anywhere.

[Newton_V]

Jeff Foust passed along this tweet from the SMC Commander:

Delaying SBIRS GEO-3 fueling & Oct.3 launch due to issue on another non-SBIRS satellite. Evaluating. New dates TBD.

Is this fallout from the MUOS 5 issue?

potentially since it uses the same bus.

If so, we may see delays in the delivery and launch of other A2100M satellites scheduled in the next several months, such as AEHF-4 and GPS III-1.

although GPS III slipped well before MUOS-5 launched...

Newton_v is there anything available that can be moved up to take advantage of those unused slots?

I don't think anything will move to the left, especially into 2016.  There are some open slots in 2017 though.  Wouldn't surprise me if a commercial customer showed up.

[zubenelgenubi]

Jeff Foust passed along this tweet from the SMC Commander:

Delaying SBIRS GEO-3 fueling & Oct.3 launch due to issue on another non-SBIRS satellite. Evaluating. New dates TBD.

Is this fallout from the MUOS 5 issue?

potentially since it uses the same bus.

EDITed reply: If so, we may see delays in the delivery and launch of other A2100 and A2100M satellites scheduled in the next several months, such as GOES-R, AEHF-4, and GPS III-1.

GOES-R too

although GPS III slipped well before MUOS-5 launched...

Thanks for mentioning GOES-R, Jim.  I had it in my notes and then forgot to add it.

The launch delays that I'm referring to are the ones that have been announced since the difficulties with MUOS-5 began.

So, if there's any "domino effect" into the testing, launch processing, and launch of A2100 model satellites, we should see it soon, manifesting as more delayed launch dates (or delivery to the Cape).

GOES-R is being processed at Astrotech.  Some of the NSF members could be dealing with this issue now!  (if it is an issue across the board for A2100)

[Sam Ho]

Jeff Foust quotes Lockheed Martin as saying the problem wasn't on one of their satellites, meaning it's not an A2100 issue and isn't related to MUOS-5.

http://spacenews.com/supplier-anomaly-raises-questions-delaying-air-forces-sbirs-launch/

[ZachS09]

It's Intelsat 33e; that satellite had a propulsion issue.

[baldusi]

It's Intelsat 33e; that satellite had a propulsion issue.

That was my assumption. But, it might not have been related to main propulsion. Failure of thrusters, for example, is something one never hears about.
Besides, I understand that A2100 now uses IHI's BT-4 while Boeing 702MP uses LEROS.