What Can SBIRS detect?

Although SBIRS was designed primarily for missile defense purposes, its short- and mid-wave IR sensors can detect any significant infrared event on the globe, including explosions, fires, and plane crashes.

How SBIRS works?

The SBIRS program is designed to provide key capabilities in the areas of missile warning, missile defense and battlespace characterization via satellites in geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO), sensors hosted on satellites in highly elliptical orbit (HEO), and ground-based data processing and control.

How many SBIRS satellites?

With four geostationary satellites in orbit — as well as two hosted payloads on satellites in polar orbits — SBIRS has reached the minimum “baseline” configuration that the Air Force considers sufficient to meet early-warning and surveillance needs around the world.

What does SBIRS Do?

The integrated SBIRS satellite system provides long-range surveillance and target detection capabilities to support missions such as missile warning, missile defence, technical intelligence and battlespace awareness, and is capable of providing infrared information for multiple missions simultaneously.

How much does Sbirs cost?

SBIRS at the beginning was expected to cost $5 billion for five satellites, and GAO calculated the total program cost is now $19.2 billion for six satellites.

What Is SBIR geo5?

SBIRS-GEO (Space Based Infra Red Sensor – Geostationary) is the geostationary component of the SBIRS-High program, which will replace the DSP system of early warning satellites in providing early warning for Intercontinental Ballistic Missile launches.

How much does SBIRS cost?

What is the SBIR program?

The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program is a highly competitive program that encourages domestic small businesses to engage in Federal Research/Research and Development that has the potential for commercialization.

How do satellites detect missile launches?

DSP satellites, which are operated by the 460th Space Wing, detect missile or spacecraft launches and nuclear explosions using sensors that detect the infrared emissions from these intense sources of heat. Typically, DSP satellites were launched on Titan IVB boosters with Inertial Upper Stages.

How much do military satellites cost?

The third satellite in the series, launched in 2013, cost some $900 million while the fourth satellite, featuring a variety of modifications, had a price tag of $1.8 billion, officials said before launch in 2018. The final two satellites, AEHF-5 and 6, cost a combined $2.15 billion.

What Is SBIR gov?

The Small Business Innovation Research (or SBIR) program is a United States Government program, coordinated by the Small Business Administration, intended to help certain small businesses conduct research and development (R&D).

How much is an SBIR grant?

SBIR Phase I proposals are expected to outline R&D projects with the aim of establishing technical feasibility or proof of concept of unproven, risky technologies. Successful applicants will receive a grant of up to $225,000 over a period of 6 to 12 months (the period to be decided by the applicant).

Who is the prime contractor for SBIRS GEO?

The prime contractor for SBIRS is Lockheed Martin, with Northrop Grumman as the major subcontractor. Lockheed Martin also provides the satellite for SBIRS GEO.

When was the SBIRS High GEO 1 launched?

SBIRS High GEO 1 was launched on 7 May 2011. Two SBIRS sensors hosted on two classified satellites in highly elliptical orbit have already been launched, probably as part of the NROL-22 (USA 184) and NROL-28 (USA 200) launches in 2006 and 2008.

Where is the SBIRS Block 10 ground system located?

The SBIRS Block 10 ground system consolidates the legacy DSP, HEO and GEO ground systems from three locations into one primary and one backup ground station.

What kind of satellites are in the SBIRS program?

The SBIRS program consists of the space segment of Geosynchronous Earth Orbit satellites, Highly Elliptical Orbit sensors riding on host satellites, legacy DSP satellites and the associated world-wide deployed ground systems.