Rollout! SBIRS Ready for Launch

  • Published
  • By Hien Q. Vu
  • SMC Public Affairs
The Air Force's Space Based Infrared Systems spacecraft rolls out to its Space Launch Complex-41 launch pad here at 11 a.m. EDT today.

The launch of SBIRS GEO-1 satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket is set for Friday, May 6, with the launch period opening at 2:14 p.m. EDT. 

A live feed will begin 20 minutes prior to the launch, concluding approximately 45 minutes following launch. A simulcast of the broadcast can be viewed at http://www.ulalaunch.com/site/pages/Multimedia_Webcast.shtml.

SBIRS is designed to provide global persistent infrared surveillance capability to meet 21st century demands in mission areas including missile warning, missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness.

The SBIRS team is led by the United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center's Infrared Space Systems Directorate, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman as the payload integrator. U.S. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.