In its final form, it will comprise six GEO satellites at geostationary altitude, together with adjunct sensors aboard the HEO-1 and HEO-2 satellites, which were inserted into highly-elliptical orbits back in June 2006 and March 2008. It is expected to enable the United StatesвЂ™ space surveillance needs for the next two decades, with focuses including advanced early warning, missile defense and battlespace characterization. SBIRS forms part of a multi-billion-dollar Pentagon effort to replace the earlier Defense Support Program (DSP) network of early-warning satellites, whose own ancestry extends back to the 1970s. Described as a вЂњglobal guardianвЂќ for ballistic missile detection and defense, it is the fifth geostationary element of an upgraded set of space-based infrared вЂњeyesвЂќ and follows four previous missions also launched atop Atlas Vs between May 2011 and January 2018. SBIRS GEO-5 completed an ahead-of-schedule construction and testing campaign last October, with the elimination of unnecessary programmatic oversight and reporting, a restructured test program and a streamlined production schedule having enabled Lockheed Martin to finish SBIRS GEO-5 in only five years.

Watch a preview video of what you can expect during the Atlas V rocketвЂ™s flight to deliver the #SBIRSGEO5 satellite into a geosynchronous transfer orbit (ULA video) It is believed that the additional performance afforded by the 421 will permit a more optimized orbit for the payload. ULAвЂ™s CEO Tory Bruno noted at the time of the SBIRS GEO-4 launch that the additional impetus afforded by the single solid provided вЂњenough energy to allow Centaur to be immediately deorbitedвЂќ after its mission, rather than placing it into a designated disposal (or вЂњjunkyardвЂќ) orbit for slower decay and eventual re-entry. The first three SBIRS GEO missions in May 2011, March 2013 and January 2017 rode вЂњ401вЂќ boosters, with no strap-on rockets, although January 2018вЂ™s launch occurred on a вЂњ411вЂќ with a single side booster. Uniquely, tomorrowвЂ™s launch will be the first time an Atlas V has flown in the 421 configuration to lift a SBIRS GEO satellite to orbit. As we prepare to launch the fifth SBIRS mission, we thank our partners for their outstanding teamwork and collaboration.вЂќ вЂњThis mission marks our 91 stВ launch in support of national security space. We are launching critical capabilities for the warfighter and understand the need for reliability and consistency,вЂќ said Gary Wentz, ULA vice president of Government and Commercial Programs. вЂњWe take our role in national security very seriously and pride ourselves in being partners in space with the U.S. Launch was set for 17 May but was scrubbed during Centaur liquid oxygen (LOX) chilldown operations when the launch team identified an anomalous system response that could not be resolved in time. The mission will also mark the 91st national security launch for ULA, and their 87th Atlas V flight. EDT on Tuesday, 18 May, and will mark the eighth flight of an Atlas V in a вЂњ421вЂќ configuration, equipped with a 13-foot-wide (4-meter) fairing, two strap-on solid-fueled boosters and a single-engine Centaur upper stage. Liftoff of the 194-foot tall rocket is targeted for 1:31 p.m. It has been a slow start this year for United Launch Alliance, but thatвЂ™s about to change tomorrow, as they kick-off their first of 8 planned Atlas V launches this year with a mission to deliver the fifth geostationary-orbiting element of the Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS GEO-5) into orbit for the U.S. Space Force at 1:31m ET on from Cape Canaveral, FL. ULAвЂ™s Atlas V in a вЂ421вЂ™ configuration ready to launch the SBIRS GEO Flight 5 mission to orbit for the U.S.

Geo 5