14 DAY TRIAL // The first Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite has just finished undergoing its final tests, and is now ready for its September 25 launch date, experts in charge of constructing it report.
The spacecraft was developed by The Boeing Company, in collaboration with Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corporation. The announcement was made yesterday.
Both the satellite itself and the accompanying ground system have been completed, officials at Boeing say, and so the mission can finally get off the ground this Friday.
The delivery system that will carry the SBSS to orbit will take off from the Lompoc, California-based Vandenberg Air Force Base, which also houses rocket launch pads.
“Every day, threats to our nation’s valuable satellites and space platforms are growing,” says Col. J.R. Jordan of the motivation that lead to the development of the SBSS.
“SBSS will revolutionize our ability to find and monitor objects that could harm the space assets we depend on for security, communications, weather forecasting and many other essential services,” adds the official.
He is the vice commander of the Space Superiority Systems Wing, at the US Air Force (USAF) Space and Missile Systems Center (SMSC).
Experts explain that the main mission the new satellite will have to conduct will be to improve the nation's accuracy and timeliness of space situational awareness.
The sensors aboard the spacecraft will be able to detect and monitor space debris, other satellites, as well as space objects that do not fit any of these classifications.
It will be able to do so regardless of whether the observations are carried out during the night, in fog, or in conditions that would otherwise be considered adverse.
“With its gimbaled camera, reprogrammable onboard processor and open ground system architecture, SBSS can respond quickly to today's changing mission requirements and adapt to meet tomorrow's threats as well,” says Boeing official Craig Cooning.
“Boeing looks forward to putting these advanced capabilities into action for the Air Force,” adds the expert, who is the company's Space and Intelligence Systems division's vice president and general manager of Boeing
“The SBSS team is ready to go on Sept. 25,” adds the director of Boeing Advanced Space and Intelligence Systems, Todd Citron.
“We've thoroughly rehearsed all plans and procedures, the Satellite Operations Center has been configured for flight operations, and the SBSS satellite and Minotaur launch vehicle are completing final preparations,” he goes on to say.
“We're looking forward to putting this spacecraft into orbit so that it can perform its vital mission,” the official adds.
“Ball is proud to contribute to a program that will improve productivity and overall flexibility for space situational awareness,” Ball Aerospace president and CEO David L. Taylor says.
“SBSS is a critical component that will allow the Air Force to keep a sharper eye on developments that might threaten US assets in space,” he concludes.