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Air Force and its industry partners on Tuesday launched, GEO-2, the second Space Based Infrared System satellite, into orbit atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V booster fired from Cape Canaveral AFS, Fla. “The entire team worked hand-in-hand to make this another successful launch for the Air Force and our nation,” said 45th Space Wing Commander Brig. Gen. Anthony Cotton, who oversees Cape Canaveral launch operations, in a release. He added, “Our hats go off to them for all their hard work.” The satellite separated from the Atlas V upper stage approximately 43 minutes after the launch, which occurred at 5:21 p.m. US East Coast time, said service space acquisition officials in a separate release. It then began a series of orbital maneuvers to propel itself to a geosynchronous earth orbit. Once in its final orbit, engineers will deploy the satellite’s solar arrays and antennas and complete checkout and tests in preparation for operational use, states the release. GEO-2 joins GEO-1, which reached orbit in May 2011, and two SBIRS payloads that reside on classified intelligence satellites. The SBIRS constellation is designed to provide early warning of missile launches and other types of infrared surveillance information to the US military and intelligence community. They will complement, and eventually replace, legacy Defense Support Program satellites. Lockheed Martin is the SBIRS prime contractor; Northrop Grumman is the payload supplier. (See also Lockheed Martin release.)
The Air Force and Boeing agreed to a nearly $2.4 billion contract for a new lot of KC-46 aerial tankers on Nov. 21. The deal, announced by the Pentagon, is for 15 new aircraft in Lot 11 at a cost of $2.389 billion—some $159 million per tail.