LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. – The Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload launch is scheduled for Tuesday, with the launch window opening at 2:40 p.m. PDT.
A simulcast of the launch is available through the Arianespace website at http://www.videocorner.tv/videocorner2/live_flv/index.php?langue=en.
CHIRP is a technology maturation and risk reduction experiment to collect real-world wide field-of-view infrared data, investigate spacecraft-sensor interactions and sensor behavior in the space environment, explore relevant operational issues, and evaluate long-term suitability of commercially hosted payloads. These sensors are applicable to missile warning/defense, technical intelligence, and battlespace awareness missions and allow for increased performance with a simplified design.
The CHIRP team is a government-industry collaboration led by the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center’s Development Planning Directorate. SES Government Solutions is the CHIRP prime contractor, with Orbital Sciences Corporation as the host spacecraft manufacturer and payload integrator. Science Applications International Corporation developed the payload.
Media representatives can submit questions for response regarding this topic by sending an e-mail to smcpa.media@losangeles.af.mil.
Get the latest Los Angeles Air Force Base News at www.losangeles.af.mil ‘Space and Missile Systems Center – Building the Future of Military Space Today’
SPACE & MISSILE SYSTEMS CENTER (AFSPC)
Office of Public Affairs
483 N. Aviation Blvd.
El Segundo, CA 90245-2808
Release no: 11-09-05
Date: Sept. 19, 2011
Contact: Media Relations Division
Telephone: (310) 653-2367/1132/2479
Email: smcpa.media@losangeles.af.mil
