U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin said Wednesday it had completed an important test for the first geosynchronous satellite of the planned U.S. Space-Based Infrared System (see GSN, April 4).
"The GEO-1 satellite has completed a comprehensive Baseline Integrated System Test (BIST) phase which began in early March to characterize the overall performance of the GEO-1 satellite and establish a performance baseline for entering environmental testing" ahead of the planned launch late next year of the satellite, the company said in a statement.
The completed system would provide early warning data on missile launches, including flight information on targets for missile defense systems as well as intelligence on technical specifications of enemy missiles and their performance in surrounding environments. The tested satellite is one of two that Lockheed Martin plans to place over specific geographic regions under a Pentagon contract.
"This comprehensive test confirms our readiness to enter the critical environmental test stage," Jeff Smith, SBIRS vice president and program manager for Lockheed, said in the press release. "Our team continues to make significant progress on this sophisticated satellite and we look forward to achieving mission success" (Lockheed Martin release, April 30).