.jpeg) SBIRS GEO-4 satellite on the pad | |
| Names | SBIRS GEO-4 (SV-3) Space-Based Infrared System GEOstationary-4[1] |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Infraredearly warning IRINT |
| Operator | United States Air Force /United States Space Force |
| COSPAR ID | 2018-009A |
| SATCATno. | 43162 |
| Website | https://www.spaceforce.mil/ |
| Mission duration | 12 years (planned) 7 years, 9 months and 30 days(in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | SBIRS GEO-4 |
| Spacecraft type | SBIRS GEO |
| Bus | A2100M |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin Space |
| Launch mass | 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) |
| Dimensions | 15 m x 6.7 m x 6.1 m |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 January 2018, 00:48UTC[2] |
| Rocket | Atlas V 411 (AV-076) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral (CCAFS), SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance (ULA) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
| Instruments | |
| 2 SBIRS infrared sensors | |
USA-282, also known asSBIRS GEO-4,[3][1] is aUnited Statesmilitary satellite and part of theSpace-Based Infrared System.
The SBIRS program was designed to provide a seamless operational transition from DSP to SBIRS and meet jointly defined requirements of the defense and intelligence communities in support of the missile early warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence mission areas.[4]
The SBIRS satellites are a replacement for theDefense Support Program (DSP) early warning system. They are intended to detectballistic missile launches, as well as various other events in theinfrared spectrum, includingnuclear explosions,aircraft flights, space objectentries and reentries,wildfires andspacecraft launches.
SBIRS GEO-4 was manufactured byLockheed Martin Space, at production facility inSunnyvale, California, and is built upon theA2100Msatellite bus. The Atlas V launch vehicle used for SBIRS GEO-4 flew with astrap-on booster, a different configuration from the previous three SBIRS GEO launches. This was done as part of aspace debris mitigation effort, to allow theCentaurupper stage to preserve sufficient fuel for adeorbit burn.[5]
SBIRS GEO-4 was the third geostationary SBIRS satellite to be built, Satellite Vehicle 3 (SV-3). Construction of the satellite was completed before it was required to launch, so the spacecraft was placed into storage. TheU.S. Air Force later opted to launch Satellite Vehicle 4 (SV-4) first as SBIRS GEO-3, saving the cost of putting the newly completed SV-4 into storage and additional testing that would be needed upon taking it back out.[3]
The Atlas V, with the tail number AV-076, flew in its 411 configuration. This Atlas V configuration differs from the 401 version used for the previous three SBIRS GEO launches – which did not use anysolid rocket booster (SRB). The change of configuration has ostensibly been made to ensureCentaur can be deorbited after satellite separation, helping to mitigatespace debris. On previous SBIRS GEO launches, Centaur has remained in a disposal orbit, close togeostationary transfer orbit (GTO), at the end of its mission.[3]
It was launched on 20 January 2018 fromCape Canaveral (CCAFS), atop anAtlas V 411launch vehicle.
TheU.S. Air Force announced the satellite was operating as expected and had established initial communications with it.[5]
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain.