[Satellite Today 02-12-09] A Lockheed Martin led team has won another U.S. space contract, the company announced Feb. 10. The U.S. Air Force has awarded the Lockheed Martin/Northrop Grumman Transformational Satellite Communications System (TSAT) Space Segment Team a $75-million, six-month extension to its Risk Reduction and System Definition (RR&SD) contract.
    Over the next several weeks, the team will focus on delivering an Interim Design Review (IDR) in early April 2009 for the initial TSAT satellite constellation, known as Block 10. Under the restructured program, the initial increment of TSAT will consist of five Block 10 satellites and associated ground control systems with a first launch capability by 2019.
    The IDR will verify the maturity of the updated space segment specification, demonstrate that the team’s design meets performance requirements and analyze other system acquisition and operations activities including life-cycle costs, plans to enter the production phase, and approaches to eliminating risks throughout the program’s life.