First SBIRS Satellite Launched on May 7

The United States Air Force (USAF) managed to successfully launch the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) spacecraft on Saturday, May 7, from a Florida launch pad.

The instrument, which is the first of its kind, is destined to provide new and improved ballistic missile detection capabilities. Its extremely sensitive infrared sensors will allow experts to augment their early-warning capabilities as well.

According to engineers at Lockheed Martin, the main contractor on the new project, the satellite will provide warfighters and military commanders with improved fast-response capabilities, which will help reduce casualties on battlegrounds around the world in the long run.

GEO-1 was launched on Saturday at 2:10 pm EDT (1810 GMT), from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS). The instrument was carried to orbit aboard an Atlas V delivery system, which is built by Lockheed Martin and the Boeing Company.

“Today’s successful launch is a tribute to the hard work, dedication and unmatched expertise of the entire government and industry SBIRS team,” says Brig. Gen. (select) Roger W. Teague.

“I am proud of the women and men who have worked on this spacecraft, and am confident the nation will be proud of its performance on orbit,” adds the USAF official, who is the director of the Infrared Space Systems Directorate.

“SBIRS GEO-1 represents the dawn of a new era in overhead persistent infrared surveillance that will greatly improve our national security for years to come,” he goes on to say.

In addition to carrying highly sophisticated scanning and staring sensors, the spacecraft is also very fast, and provides the USAF with a revisit time frame that is a lot smaller than that of past missions.

“We understand the importance of the SBIRS mission and are proud to partner with the US Air Force on this critical program,” adds the Lockheed Martin vice president and SBIRS program director, Jeff Smith.

“Throughout the development of this first-of-its-kind satellite, our SBIRS team has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to operational excellence,” the official goes on to say.

“As a result, we are confident SBIRS GEO-1 will deliver unprecedented, global, persistent, taskable infrared surveillance capabilities to the warfighter, nation and our allies for years to come,” he concludes.