Space Force to launch fifth SBIRS satellite in May
By Sandra Erwin
WASHINGTON — A $1.6 billion Space Based Infrared System satellite arrived last week at Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The satellite, made by Lockheed Martin, is scheduled to launch May 17 on a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket, the U.S. Space Force announced March 24.
The geosynchronous SBIRS GEO-5 is the fifth satellite of the Space Based Infrared System program. Lockheed Martin said the manufacturing of SBIRS GEO-5 was completed in December.
SBIRS satellites use staring and scanning infrared sensors to detect missile launches and provide advance warning.
The first satellite launched in 2011, the second in 2013, the third in 2017 and the fourth in 2018. The final satellite SBIRS GEO-6 will launch in 2022.
Lockheed Martin said SBIRS GEO-5 is the first military satellite that uses a new bus developed by the company, the LM 2100. SBIRS GEO-6 also is being built on that bus.
The SBIRS constellation was designed to replace the Defense Support Program, a system of early warning satellites made by Northrop Grumman that has been in operation since the 1970s.
Both Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman are now under contract to develop new missile-warning satellites known as Next-Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared.
March 25, 2021 at 11:39PM
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