[Satellite TODAY 09-21-09] A team lead by Lockheed Martin begun thermal vacuum testing of the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous GEO-1 satellite for the U.S. Air Force, the company announced Sept. 17.
    The tests are being conducted in Lockheed Martin’s Dual Entry Large Thermal Altitude (DELTA) chamber and are designed to verify spacecraft functionality and performance in a vacuum environment and validate the overall satellite design, quality and workmanship and survivability during space vehicle launching and on-orbit operations.
    The Lockheed Martin team said the milestone keeps the GEO-1 project on target for delivery and launch in the beginning of fiscal year 2011 aboard an Atlas 5 launch vehicle.
    The U.S. Air Force’s SBIRS program aims to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions, including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness. Lockheed Martin’s SBIRS contract includes the two highly elliptical orbit payloads now on-orbit, two geosynchronous orbit satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and process the infrared data.
    The team was recently awarded a $1.5-billion contract for the third HEO payload, the third GEO satellite and associated ground modifications.
    Lockheed Martin expects to be awarded a contract to include a fourth HEO payload and potential fourth GEO satellite later this year.

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