[Satellite TODAY 06-20-11] Prime contractor Goodrich Corp. and its sub-contractor ATK Space Systems have successfully completed all program milestones for the ORS-1 (Operationally Responsive Space) satellite and delivered the spacecraft to NASA’s Wallops Island Flight Facility, the company announced June 16.

   Orbital Sciences will launch ORS-1 aboard a Minotaur 1 on June 28. The satellite is the first developed to support U.S. combatant command operations and aims to provide battlespace awareness for U.S. Central Command. 

   The ORS-1 payload leverages the Goodrich SYERS-2 multi-spectral sensor — the primary imaging sensor on the U.S. Air Force’s U-2 reconnaissance plane. The bus, built by ATK Space Systems, is based on the bus built for the TacSat-3 satellite. Goodrich built the ground segment to be compatible with the data processing, exploitation and dissemination infrastructure used for the operational SYERS-2 sensor.

   “Rigorous environmental testing began in December 2010 enabling the Goodrich team to ensure that the satellite will function and perform in extreme conditions. The tests included duplicating extreme hot and cold temperatures the satellite will experience during launch and when in space,” Goodrich said in a company statement.