DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS: U.S. Air Force Poised To Launch First-Of-Its-Kind Space Based Infrared System Satellite....NSI # 1911

DTN News - LOCKHEED MARTIN NEWS: U.S. Air Force Poised To Launch First-Of-Its-Kind Space Based Infrared System Satellite....NSI News Source Info # 1911

(NSI News Source Info)

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, Fla., - 5 May, 2011: The U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin [NYSE : LMT] are ready to launch the first Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous (GEO-1) spacecraft on Friday, May 6 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The launch window is 2:14 p.m. EDT to 2:54 p.m. EDT. A live launch broadcast will begin at 1:54 p.m. EDT and will be accessible via the ULA webcast.

SBIRS GEO-1 will enhance early warning of missile launches around the globe, support the nation's ballistic missile defense system, greatly expand our technical intelligence gathering capability, and provide enhanced situational awareness for warfighters on the battlefield.

“SBIRS GEO-1 represents the dawn of a new era in overhead persistent infrared surveillance that will greatly improve national security for years to come,” said Brig Gen (select) Roger W. Teague, the U.S. Air Force’s Infrared Space Systems Directorate director. “We look forward to getting this next generation system on orbit and delivering its enhanced capabilities to the warfigher.”

http://defense-technologynews.blogspot.com/2011/05/dtn-news-lockheed-martin-news-us-air.html