New Missile Warning Satellite Built By LM Begins Major Environmental Test Phase

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New Missile Warning Satellite Built By Lockheed Martin Begins Major Environmental Test Phase
UNITED STATES - 17 SEPTEMBER 2009

SUNNYVALE, Calif., September 17th, 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] has begun thermal vacuum testing of the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite, a major program milestone that will validate spacecraft performance in a complete test-like-you-fly environment.

The U.S. Air Force's SBIRS program is designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions, including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

Conducted inside Lockheed Martin's Dual Entry Large Thermal Altitude (DELTA) chamber, the test will verify spacecraft functionality and performance in a vacuum environment where the satellite is stressed at the extreme hot and cold temperatures it will experience in space. The extensive test is designed to validate the overall satellite design, quality and workmanship and survivability during space vehicle launching and on-orbit operations.

“The entire team has worked extremely hard throughout our rigorous process of risk reduction and subsystem and baseline testing leading up to this critical test,” said Dave Sheridan, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS GEO program director. “We look forward to executing a disciplined and thorough test and delivering this revolutionary satellite that provides vastly improved surveillance capabilities for the warfighter.”

The SBIRS team is led by the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

The team is executing to a planned schedule that supports GEO-1 delivery and launch in the beginning of fiscal year 2011 aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

Lockheed Martin's SBIRS contract includes the two highly elliptical orbit (HEO) payloads now on-orbit, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data. The team was recently awarded a $1.5-billion contract for the third HEO payload, the third GEO satellite and associated ground modifications. A contract to include a fourth HEO payload and potential fourth GEO satellite is expected to be awarded later this year.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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Lockheed Martin Starts Integrated Testing Of Second Missile Warning Satellite
UNITED STATES - 29 OCTOBER 2009

First SBIRS GEO Spacecraft Progressing in Thermal Vacuum Test Phase

SUNNYVALE, Calif, October 29th, 2009 -- Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] announced today that the second Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO-2) spacecraft is progressing through a series of key tests that will demonstrate the integrated satellite's readiness to enter the critical environmental test phase in preparation for launch.

SBIRS is designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization.

The test phase, known as Baseline Integrated System Test (BIST), is conducted at Lockheed Martin's Space Systems facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. and is designed to characterize the overall performance of the GEO-2 satellite and establish a performance baseline prior to entering environmental testing.

“Getting our second satellite integrated and into system testing is a major accomplishment for the program," said Lt Col Heath Collins, Commander, SBIRS Space Squadron. "It couldn’t have happened without the skill, professionalism, and dedication of the combined SBIRS team. This is yet one more step towards providing revolutionary missile warning capabilities to the warfighters and national decision makers in the coming years.”

The first phase of BIST is conducted with the GEO-2 spacecraft in an expanded mode to allow for thorough checkout of the completed spacecraft bus with the infrared payload, which was delivered by the payload subcontractor Northrop Grumman in April 2009 and integrated into the spacecraft core and electronics equipment panels over the summer.

Following this test phase, the team will install the equipment panels and communications antennas in the flight configuration for environmental testing, where the integrated spacecraft will be subjected to acoustic and thermal vacuum levels expected during launch and on-orbit operations. GEO-2 is planned for launch in fiscal year 2012.

"As the result of the team's continuous process improvement initiatives, we are progressing steadily in our integration and test activities on this second cutting-edge spacecraft," said Keoki Jackson, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS GEO-2 program manager. "We look forward executing this key test and achieving total mission success on this critical national security program."

The first SBIRS spacecraft (GEO-1) is currently in thermal vacuum testing, where it has already completed the first of several hot and cold temperature cycles as part of a comprehensive test-like-you-fly process. The extensive test is the last environmental test phase prior to final checkout and shipment to the launch site in late 2010.

The SBIRS team is led by the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the payload subcontractor. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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U.S Air Force/Lockheed Martin-Led Team Successfully Complete Environmental Testing Of First-Of-Its-Kind Missile Warning Satellite
UNITED STATES - 1 DECEMBER 2009

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- A joint U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT]-led team announced today that it has successfully completed thermal vacuum testing of the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite, one of the most significant program milestones that validates spacecraft performance in a simulated space environment.

The U.S. Air Force's SBIRS program is designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously provide important capabilities to other missions, including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

Conducted inside Lockheed Martin's Dual Entry Large Thermal Altitude (DELTA) chamber, the test verified spacecraft functionality and performance in a vacuum environment where the satellite was thoroughly tested at the extreme hot and cold temperatures it will experience in space.

Thermal vacuum testing represents the last of several critical environmental test phases that validate the overall satellite design, quality of workmanship and survivability during space vehicle launching and on-orbit operations.

Successful completion of environmental testing gives us high confidence in the capabilities of this technically complex satellite and represents the culmination of years of hard work by a government/industry team dedicated to achieving mission success on this vitally important program, said Col Roger Teague, the U.S. Air Force's SBIRS Wing Commander. We are on track with our remaining work ahead and look forward to the delivery of this first-of-its-kind satellite, which will provide substantially improved surveillance capabilities for the warfighter.

With the completion of spacecraft environmental testing, Lockheed Martin will now perform final factory work on the satellite and execute a series of integrated spacecraft and system tests to ensure the vehicle is ready for flight. The first SBIRS GEO spacecraft is planned for delivery to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in late 2010 where it will then undergo final processing and preparation for launch aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

The team performed a thorough and disciplined test and we fully expect this cutting-edge spacecraft will meet or exceed our customer's expectations, said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS Vice President. Our team is now focused on successfully executing the final integration and test activities to verify system integrity in preparation for delivery next year.

The SBIRS team is led by the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

Lockheed Martin's SBIRS contract includes the two highly elliptical orbit (HEO) payloads now on-orbit, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data. The team was recently awarded a $1.5-billion contract for the third HEO payload, the third GEO-3 satellite and associated ground modifications. The program has also begun advanced procurement of long-lead components for a fourth HEO payload and a fourth GEO satellite.


Source: Lockheed Martin

 

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LOCKHEED MARTIN : Completes Final Installations on First of Its Kind Missile Warning Spacecraft

02/16/2011 | 01:10 pm


SUNNYVALE, Calif., Feb. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)-led Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) team has finished final installations on the first geosynchronous (GEO-1) satellite and successfully completed the spacecraft's final factory confidence test in preparation for delivery to the launch site.

SBIRS GEO-1, with its highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors, will provide the nation with significantly improved missile warning capabilities and support other critical missions simultaneously including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

Final installations included the spacecraft's deployable light shade, solar arrays, thermal blankets, and flight batteries. The fully integrated spacecraft then successfully passed its final factory confidence test, the last major milestone in preparation for delivery to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., for a spring 2011 launch aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle.

"SBIRS GEO-1 will usher in a new era of critical missile warning capabilities vital to our national security. As we progress toward launch, the entire government/industry team is laser focused on delivering mission success for our warfighters," said Brig. Gen. (sel) Roger Teague, the director of the U.S. Air Force's Infrared Space Systems Directorate.

As the SBIRS GEO-1 spacecraft prepares for shipment, the spacecraft's flight software, designed to provide highly reliable command and control operations, will complete its final qualification testing, and the SBIRS ground segment team will conduct final readiness exercises in preparation to support GEO-1 launch and operations.

"The entire SBIRS team continues to focus on operational excellence as we prepare this critical spacecraft for launch," said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS vice president. "We are dedicated to achieving GEO-1 mission success and delivering unprecedented infrared surveillance capabilities to the warfighter."

The SBIRS team is led by the Infrared Space Systems Directorate at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman, as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

Lockheed Martin's original SBIRS contract includes two HEO payloads that have already been delivered, two geosynchronous orbit (GEO) satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data. The team is also under a follow-on production contract to deliver additional HEO payloads and GEO satellites, and associated ground modifications.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.


LOCKHEED MARTIN : Completes Final Installations on First of Its Kind Missile Warning Spacecraft