Lockheed Martin Team Delivers Flight Software for Nation’s New Missile Warning Satellite
Posted on May 27, 2008
Filed Under Software
SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 27 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)
announced today that it has successfully delivered the first of two major
blocks of flight software designed to provide highly reliable command and
control of the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit
(GEO) spacecraft.
The U.S. Air Force’s SBIRS program is designed to provide early warning
of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions including
missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., prime contractor for
the SBIRS program, has enhanced the SBIRS flight software architecture to
enable more robust command and data handling, fault management and
safe-hold capabilities on the GEO satellite system.
The first block of software includes 25,000 source lines of code and
will be used to test the command and telemetry functions of the new
architecture on flight-equivalent hardware, an important step toward
integration and test with the second block on the GEO-1 space vehicle later
this year. The software will also be integrated into the end-to-end SBIRS
GEO Simulation to start checkout of space-to-ground interfaces with the new
flight software.
“Delivery of this software is the result of our government-industry
partnership and commitment to successful execution of this important
national security program,” said Jeff Smith, Lockheed Martin’s SBIRS vice
president and program manager. “This spacecraft constellation will provide
revolutionary new surveillance capabilities for our warfighters and we look
forward to our continued positive momentum and achieving mission success
for our customer.”
The second block, scheduled for delivery in August, will consist of the
remaining 35,000 lines of code and contain applications that control space
vehicle electrical power, temperature, attitude and navigation. It will
also feature a more robust fault management system which responds when an
anomaly is detected during on-orbit operations, putting the satellite into
a safe state while operators on the ground analyze the situation and take
corrective action.
Successful delivery of the flight software is necessary to support
pre-launch spacecraft testing, including thermal vacuum testing which will
validate spacecraft performance at temperature extremes greater than those
expected during on-orbit operations. After the extensive environmental and
final integrated test phase, the spacecraft will be shipped to the Air
Force in late 2009 in preparation for launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force
Base, Fla.
Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., and Northrop
Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., the payload integrator, are
developing SBIRS for the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center.
Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.
Lockheed Martin is currently under contract to provide two HEO payloads
and two GEO satellites, as well as ground-based assets to receive and
process the infrared data. The Lockheed Martin team has delivered both HEO
payloads and the first GEO satellite launch is scheduled for late 2009. The
first HEO payload has completed initial on-orbit deployment and checkout
and demonstrated that its performance meets or exceeds specifications. The
program is in the early stages of adding additional GEO spacecraft and HEO
payloads to the planned constellation.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 140,000
people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced
technology systems, products and services. The Corporation reported 2007
sales of $41.9 billion.
Media Contact: Steve Tatum, 408-742-7531; e-mail,
Stephen.o.tatum@lmco.com
SOURCE Lockheed Martin
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