The first Space Based Infrared System early warning satellite, dubbed GEO-1, is now ready for environmental testing after engineers successfully completed a comprehensive phase of integrated baseline tests, Lockheed Martin, the satellite’s manufacturer, announced April 30. “I am proud of our entire team for completing this significant milestone ahead of the planned schedule,” said Air Force Col. Roger Teague, commander of SBIRS Wing at Los Angeles AFB, Calif. The baseline integrated system test phase began in early March to characterize the performance of the satellite and establish a performance baseline for entering the environmental testing. The engineers will now add the satellite’s solar arrays, deployable light shade, and thermal blankets to the GEO-1 bus and prepare the satellite for acoustic and pyroshock testing. The Air Force plans to launch SBISRS GEO-1 into orbit in late 2009.
The rate of building B-21 bombers would speed up if the fiscal 2026 defense budget passes. But it remains unclear how much capacity would be added, and whether the Air Force would simply build the bombers faster, or buy more.
