USA-282
| Names | SBIRS GEO-4 (SV-3) Space-Based Infrared System GEOstationary |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Infrared early warning IRINT |
| Operator | United States Air Force |
| COSPAR ID | 2018-009A |
| SATCAT no. | 43162 |
| Mission duration | 12 years (planned) 6 years, 7 months and 12 days (in progress) |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Spacecraft | SBIRS GEO-4 |
| Spacecraft type | SBIRS GEO |
| Bus | A2100M |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Launch mass | 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 20 January 2018, 00:48 UTC [1] |
| Rocket | Atlas V 411 (AV-076) |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral (CCAFS), SLC-41 |
| Contractor | United Launch Alliance (ULA) |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Geocentric orbit |
| Regime | Geostationary orbit |
USA-282, also known as SBIRS GEO-4, is an American military satellite and part of the Space-Based Infrared System. It was launched on 20 January 2018 from Cape Canaveral (CCAFS), atop an Atlas V launch vehicle.
Übersicht
The SBIRS satellites are a replacement for the Defense Support Program early warning system. They are intended to detect ballistic missile launches, as well as various other events in the infrared spectrum, including nuclear explosions, aircraft flights, space object entries and reentries, wildfires and spacecraft launches.
Satellite description
SBIRS GEO-4 was manufactured by Lockheed Martin and is built upon the A2100M satellite bus. The Atlas V launch vehicle used for SBIRS GEO-4 flew with a strap-on booster, a different configuration from the previous three SBIRS GEO launches. This was done as part of a space debris mitigation effort, to allow the Centaur upper stage to preserve sufficient fuel for a deorbit burn.[2]
Mission
The U.S. Air Force announced the satellite was operating as expected and had established initial communication with it.[2]
References
- ^ Clark, Stephan (20 January 2018). "U.S. military satellite launched to fortify against missile attacks". Spaceflight Now. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
- ^ a b Erwin, Sandra (20 January 2018). "Air Force missile-warning command center makes contact with new SBIRS satellite". SpaceNews. Retrieved 24 January 2018.