Lockheed Martin has delivered to Northrop Grumman a pointing and control assembly system for the second geosynchronous orbit satellite in the Space-Based Infrared System constellation, according to a company release. Northrop, which now can begin integrating the PCA into the GEO-2 payload, also is working on assembly of GEO-1. Lockheed expects Northrop to deliver GEO-1 in mid-2007, whereupon Lockheed will perform final assembly and checkout in preparation for launch in late 2008.
The U.S. military is carrying out intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions along the southern border and off the coast of Mexico using U.S. Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint and U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft as part of the Pentagon’s effort to secure the southern border at the direction of President…