[10-18-07 – Satellite Today]  Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. has completed the first Space Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV) critical design review for the U.S. Air Force, the company announced Oct. 17. Ball was awarded a contract for up to six vehicle delivery orders in 2006.

The review demonstrated the design maturity of the spacecraft bus to perform over a wide range of orbit conditions and payload operating parameters as well as validated payload accommodation design and test plans. The development group also included AeroAstro Inc., which is responsible for supplying the spacecraft bus, integration, launch and mission operation support. Broad Reach Engineering and Aerospace Corp.

The goal of the STP-SIV program, which is managed by the Space Development and Test Wing of the Air Force Space & Missile Command at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, is to increase flexibility and reduce the cost of small satellite missions through the use of a standard bus design and standard payload interface capable of supporting a variety of experimental payloads and launch vehicles