US Space Force launches sixth and final satellite of missile warning system

News, US August 7, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Space Force launched the sixth and final satellite of its space-based missile warning system from the Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida on August 4, 2022.

The satellite is a part of the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) GEO project. It has been jointly produced by two of America’s largest defense contractors, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. The $1.2 billion SBIRS GEO 6 satellite was launched into outer space using the Atlas V rocket.

SBIRS GEO Program

The SBIRS GEO missile-warning system consists of a constellation of six geosynchronous satellites that are orbiting approximately 22,000 miles away from the earth above the equator. The first SBIRS GEO-1 satellite was launched in May 2011. The system intends to meet the U.S.’s needs for infrared space surveillance.

Each of the SBIRS GEO infrared sensors can cross the face of the earth with its U-shaped coverage pattern. With a fleet of six satellited positioned precisely around the earth, global coverage is provided to detect missile launches from at any point on the plane. Each satellite is also equipped with a secondary infrared sensor that can be aimed at specific regions of interest.

The first signal from SBIRS GEO-6 satellite was received 3 hours and 43 minutes after its launch which confirmed its separation from the ULA Atlas V rocket and the success of its operational capabilities.

The SBIRS GEO-6 satellite has been designed by Lockheed Martin on the LM 2100 satellite frame. It carries an infrared sensor that has been developed by Northrop Grumman.

Lockheed Martin's fully-assembled SBIRS GEO 5 missile warning satellite moves into the Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) test chamber — Lockheed Martin’s fully-assembled SBIRS GEO 5 missile warning satellite moves into the Thermal Vacuum (TVAC) test chamber. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)

Initially planned to consist of eight satellites, the space-based missile surveillance system SBIRS was decreased down to a constellation of six satellites in 2018. The U.S. Air Force decided to cancel the procurement of the seventh and eighth satellites due to concerns over the system’s resilience and lack of protection against attacks from adversaries.

The U.S. Space Force is now working with Lockheed Martin to develop a similar and upgraded system called the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (Next-Gen OPIR) missile-warning system. The first of the three Next-Gen OPIR satellites is scheduled to launch in 2025.

Vice president of Lockheed Martin Space’s Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Mission Michael Corriea stated that “The need for Overhead Persistent Infrared systems has never been more critical. We are making advancements to keep pace with evolving needs based on emerging threats in our military customers’ environment, helping pave the way for the future.”

Atlas V rocket

Launching SBIRS GEO-6 satellite into outer space was the 95th mission for ULA’s Atlas V rocket. The 194-foot-tall rocket is Powered by the Russian-made RD-180 engine. Atlas V rocket has been one of the most successful and resilient launching rockets for ULA. Vice President of ULA’s government and commercial programs Gary Wentz announced the plans to retire the Atlas V rocket in near future, however, there are still at least 19 missions listed under the Atlas V rocket. These missions include two security services-related launches, seven civil space crew missions, and 10 commercial launches.