Author Topic: LIVE: Atlas V 411 - SBIRS GEO-4 - Cape Canaveral SLC-41 - January 19/20, 2018  (Read 73783 times)

Offline zubenelgenubi

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T+8 minutes. First launch she's ever been a part of.
Also, a mention of intended launch years for SBIRS-GEO 5 (2021) and SBIRS-GEO 6 (2022), confirming information that we already had.
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Offline Star One

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Congratulations to all concerned in this launch.

Offline Targeteer

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43162   SBIRS GEO 4 (USA 282)   2018-009A   
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

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UP CLOSE Atlas-V Launches SBIRS GEO-4 Missile Defense Satellite / Jan 19, 2018


AmericaSpace
Published on Jan 20, 2018



Tony De La Rosa, ...I'm no Feline Dealer!! I move mountains.  but I'm better known for "I think it's highly sexual." Japanese to English Translation.

Offline FutureSpaceTourist

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News Release Issued: May 2, 2018 (9:07am EDT)

First Light: Fourth U.S. Air Force SBIRS Satellite Sends First Images Back to Earth

SBIRS GEO Flight-4 Completes Baseline Constellation, Global Coverage

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo., May 2, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force's fourth Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) satellite transmitted its first images back to Earth. The milestone, known as "first light," occurred in February when the SBIRS GEO Flight-4 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), turned on its powerful sensors for the first time during space vehicle checkout.

SBIRS GEO Flight-4 is the latest satellite to join the Air Force's orbiting missile warning constellation. Equipped with powerful scanning and staring infrared surveillance sensors, the satellite collects data for use by the U.S. military to detect missile launches, support ballistic missile defense, expand technical intelligence gathering and bolster situational awareness on the battlefield.

Launched on Jan. 19, SBIRS GEO Flight-4 began responding to the Air Force's 460th Space Wing's commands just 37 minutes after liftoff. Using its liquid apogee engine, the satellite successfully propelled itself to a Geosynchronous Earth Orbit (GEO) altitude of about 22,000 miles. There, it deployed its solar arrays and antennas, and began initial check out. 

"First light was a tremendous milestone for SBIRS GEO Flight-4 and we are very pleased with the high quality and definition of the images we received back," said Tom McCormick, vice president of Lockheed Martin's Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) systems mission area. "With the launch of this satellite, SBIRS can now provide global coverage, with better-than-specified sensor pointing accuracy and the ability to detect even more targets than anticipated."

SBIRS GEO Flight-4 completes the baseline SBIRS constellation. It joins SBIRS GEO Flights-1, 2 and 3, which were launched in 2011, 2013 and 2017 respectively.

In 2014, the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin a $1.86 billion contract for the SBIRS GEO-5 and 6 spacecraft. Following that award, the company offered the government a no-cost contract modification, transitioning to its modernized LM 2100 satellite bus, to demonstrate how production cycle times and costs could be drastically reduced on future space vehicles. The modification also provides improved resiliency and validates how modernized sensor suites could be incorporated. 

SBIRS GEO-5 and GEO-6 are currently greater than 50 percent through production and on track for delivery to the Air Force very early in the next decade.

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

Offline Targeteer

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There is obviously some confusion about the ID of the satellite.  The launch date ID's this a GEO-4 but the story consistently calls it GEO-3.  Paragraph 4 does refer to this as the 4th launch.  Didn't the order of launch get switched and does that explain the (my) confusion?   :o

https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1631971/sbirs-geo-3-successfully-achieves-operational-acceptance/

SBIRS GEO-3 Successfully Achieves Operational Acceptance

SMC Public Affairs / Published September 13, 2018

The Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite (GEO-3) successfully achieved Air Force Space Command operational acceptance.  The satellite is healthy and sending data to the Mission Control Station, operated by the 460th Space Wing located at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado.

 SBIRS GEO-3 launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 411 booster on January 19, 2018.  Upon separation from the booster, satellite operations personnel began a series of planned Liquid Apogee Engine transfer orbit maneuvers to safely place the spacecraft into its final orbit.  GEO-3 reached its intended orbit and began spacecraft checkout activities by deploying the satellite’s light shade, solar array wing assemblies, and antenna wing assemblies.  With the spacecraft safely on orbit, sensor testing and checkout activities began, leading to a tuned and calibrated payload ready for warfighter use.

  “The achievement of operational acceptance means the spacecraft’s infrared sensors are now considered fully operational and ready for warfighters”, said Lt Col Leroy Brown, Jr., Program Manager for SBIRS GEO-3.  “This is a huge win for the combined Program Office, Lockheed Martin Space, and Northrop Grumman team, as well as, the military, civilian, and civil users of the infrared data the SBIRS satellite constellation provides.”

 The GEO-3 launch marked the fourth launch of a Geosynchronous satellite, providing worldwide coverage as the Air Force replaces the legacy Defense Support Program missile warning and missile detection satellites that began operations over 45 years ago.

The Remote Sensing Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB in Los Angeles, California manages the SBIRS program. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, California, is the SBIRS prime contractor, and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, California, is the payload integrator. The 460th Space Wing at Buckley AFB in Aurora, Colorado, operates the SBIRS constellation. The SBIRS program 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. The system enhances global missile launch detection capability, supports the nation’s ballistic missile defense system, expands the country’s technical intelligence gathering capacity and bolsters situational awareness for warfighters on the battlefield.
« Last Edit: 09/20/2018 02:09 am by Targeteer »
Best quote heard during an inspection, "I was unaware that I was the only one who was aware."

Offline jcm

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There is obviously some confusion about the ID of the satellite.  The launch date ID's this a GEO-4 but the story consistently calls it GEO-3.  Paragraph 4 does refer to this as the 4th launch.  Didn't the order of launch get switched and does that explain the (my) confusion?   :o

https://www.afspc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1631971/sbirs-geo-3-successfully-achieves-operational-acceptance/

SBIRS GEO-3 Successfully Achieves Operational Acceptance

SMC Public Affairs / Published September 13, 2018

The Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellite (GEO-3) successfully achieved Air Force Space Command operational acceptance.  The satellite is healthy and sending data to the Mission Control Station, operated by the 460th Space Wing located at Buckley Air Force Base, Colorado.

 SBIRS GEO-3 launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V 411 booster on January 19, 2018.  Upon separation from the booster, satellite operations personnel began a series of planned Liquid Apogee Engine transfer orbit maneuvers to safely place the spacecraft into its final orbit.  GEO-3 reached its intended orbit and began spacecraft checkout activities by deploying the satellite’s light shade, solar array wing assemblies, and antenna wing assemblies.  With the spacecraft safely on orbit, sensor testing and checkout activities began, leading to a tuned and calibrated payload ready for warfighter use.

  “The achievement of operational acceptance means the spacecraft’s infrared sensors are now considered fully operational and ready for warfighters”, said Lt Col Leroy Brown, Jr., Program Manager for SBIRS GEO-3.  “This is a huge win for the combined Program Office, Lockheed Martin Space, and Northrop Grumman team, as well as, the military, civilian, and civil users of the infrared data the SBIRS satellite constellation provides.”

 The GEO-3 launch marked the fourth launch of a Geosynchronous satellite, providing worldwide coverage as the Air Force replaces the legacy Defense Support Program missile warning and missile detection satellites that began operations over 45 years ago.

The Remote Sensing Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles AFB in Los Angeles, California manages the SBIRS program. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, California, is the SBIRS prime contractor, and Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, California, is the payload integrator. The 460th Space Wing at Buckley AFB in Aurora, Colorado, operates the SBIRS constellation. The SBIRS program 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. The system enhances global missile launch detection capability, supports the nation’s ballistic missile defense system, expands the country’s technical intelligence gathering capacity and bolsters situational awareness for warfighters on the battlefield.

Yes, the 3rd and 4th launches were production numbers SV4 and SV3 respectively.

Previously I've seen this vehicle as   "SBIRS-GEO SV3"  but  "SBIRS GEO-4"
but I guess they've changed the practice

-----------------------------

Jonathan McDowell
http://planet4589.org

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