SBIRS

A test for Air Force space technology buyers: Fast prototyping
"Other transactions authorities" allow the Air Force to go faster to prototyping.

Is the cost of military space programs going up or down? Depends on how you count
For the space-based infrared SBIRS satellites 5 and 6, the Air Force says the per-unit cost went down 12 percent — from $1.9 billion to $1.6 billion.

The end of SBIRS: Air Force says it’s time to move on
What exactly will replace SBIRS remains to be seen. Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson suggested the new system will be “simpler” and more survivable to enemy attacks.

Air Force missile-warning command center makes contact with new SBIRS satellite
The SBIRS GEO Flight 4 satellite flew aboard a U.S. Air Force Atlas 5 rocket. This was the 75th launch carried out by the Atlas 5.

SN Military.Space | Government shutdown watch – Senate to hear from key DoD nominees – New SBIRS satellite set for liftoff
With no budget deal in sight to avert a Friday government shutdown, a visibly frustrated Mac Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee — and a vocal champion of bigger military budgets — called out his congressional colleagues for putting political agendas ahead of national security

New U.S. missile-warning satellite set for launch at Cape Canaveral
The SBIRS satellites are equipped with powerful scanning and staring infrared sensors that collect data for use by the U.S. military to detect missile launches.

Air Force launches new project to update missile-warning ground software
The plan is to shift the current ground software architecture to an open-systems platform that the Air Force would own and update with new technology as it becomes available.

Production of new missile warning satellites likely delayed by budget impasse
Thornberry cautioned the budget impasse will keep the Air Force from acquiring additional Space-Based Infrared Warning System satellites, known as SBIRS.

Lockheed wins $46 million contract addition for missile warning satellites
The announcement adds to the $1.86 billion Lockheed won in 2014 to build the fifth and sixth geostationary satellites for the Air Force’s Space-Based Infrared System.

Newest SBIRS satellite operational and transmitting
The SBIRS GEO Flight 3 spacecraft transmitted its first images back to Earth March 17, a milestone known as “first light.”

Lockheed Martin wins $15 million modification for SBIRS contract
Lockheed Martin Space Systems won a $15 million contract modification for work on the Air Force’s Space Based Infrared System, or SBIRS, the service announced March 15.

Air Force satellite launches successfully after delay
SBIRS GEO-3 launched successfully aboard a ULA Atlas 5 from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Jan. 20.

SBIRS GEO-3 launch scrubbed Thursday, rescheduled for Friday
The launch of an Air Force missile warning satellite didn't go as planned Thursday as technical and range issues scrubbed the launch for a day.

Cape Canaveral could see 30 launches this year, space official says
The launches include Atlas 5, Delta 4, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches, as well as a Minotaur 4.

Missile-warning SBIRS GEO-3 looking good for Jan. 19 launch
The launch of the Lockheed Martin-built satellite was originally scheduled for October but was pushed back to investigate an engine issue.

ULA’s first launch of the year will be SBIRS GEO-3
The prominent launch company announced an Air Force mission will be its first 2017 launch