aerospace/geospatial
Mississippi name on satellite programs
Mississippi name on satellite programs
Lockheed Martin’s operation at Stennis Space Center plays a crucial if
largely unknown role in defense and commercial satellite programs…
...Advanced satellites being built today by Lockheed Martin all have a stamp -
figurative if not literal - that says “made in South Mississippi.”
...And it’s likely few from outside of Lockheed Martin know Mississippi’s
pivotal role in this most high-tech of the high-tech fields.
...The seven-year-old Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space & Technology Center
builds satellite propulsion cores and multi-layer insulation blankets for
government and commercial satellites that are based on Lockheed Martin’s
award-winning A2100 spacecraft series.
...There are plenty of satellites that use the A2100, but most of the time you
won’t hear the name. That’s because it’s a core component of spacecraft that
go by other names: the Defense Department’s Space-Based Infrared System,
Advanced Extremely High Frequency system and Mobile User Objective
System, and the commercial field’s AMC, JCSAT, B-SAT and more.
...The part of the A2100 developed and made at Stennis is essential to
maneuver the satellite during transfer orbit to its final location, and to conduct
on-orbit repositioning. The blankets are just as critical to protect the sensitive
satellite equipment from the extreme temperatures of space.
The center
...The 220,000 square-foot space and technology center is an advanced
propulsion, thermal, and metrology facility at John C. Stennis Space Center that
opened in August 2002. Just before it opened, Lockheed decided to change its
name to “space & technology center” to reflect Lockheed’s decision to use the
facility for a more expansive role.
...Lockheed Martin Space Systems, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.,
operates the spacecraft propulsion and thermal system product center. But the
facility is also occupied by Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems and Global
Services unit, which has a metrology center that provides engineering and
manufacturing services.
...Combined they have about 150 employees.
...At the heart of the work done at Stennis is a versatile satellite that has found
multiple uses. The A2100 has a modular design to reduce parts and simplify
construction, as well as reduce weight and cost. It can be configured in different
sizes, certainly a plus that allows for a variety of uses. The series, which has
both civilian and military versions - designed A2100M - has received several
awards for reliability.
...All the core units are shipped to Stennis from Lockheed in Sunnyvale. Once
the work here is finished, the unit is then sent back to Sunnyvale for additional
work and integration with the satellite’s payload. From there the completed
satellite is shipped to a launch site such as Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
Fla., or another location, depending upon the customer. Some of Lockheed
Stennis’ earlier handiwork wound up in Russia for launch aboard a Proton
rocket. They have been placed atop a variety of launch vehicles.
...Many of the satellites serve civilian purposes. But it may well be the Defense
Department work that is the most notable. At least three satellite systems begin
built by Lockheed Martin and its partners for the Defense Department provide
our warfighters with everything from secure communications to battle space
awareness. Closer to home, they provide the nation with early warning of
ballistic missile attacks.
SBIRS
...The Air Force’s Space-Based Infrared System is a next generation satellite
system designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and at the same
time support other missions including missile defense, technical intelligence and
battle space awareness. It’s one of the Air Force Space Command's highest
priority space systems.
...The SBIRS program consists of groups of satellites and payloads - called a
constellation: SBIRS, the next-generation satellites now being built by Lockheed
and its partners, and the satellites of the already deployed, 30-year-old Defense
Support Program (DSP).
...DSP consists of multiple satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit that provide
tactical warning, attack assessment and nuclear detonation detection.
...When fully operational, SBIRS will include two payloads in highly elliptical
orbit (HEO), four in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) along with fixed and mobile
ground units. It will ultimately replace DSP. The two HEO payloads, one
delivered in August 2004 and the other in September 2005, are already on orbit
aboard classified satellites.
...The GEO systems are still being built. GEO-1 will be delivered to the Air
Force in fiscal year 2010 to be launched aboard an Atlas V from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Base, Fla. The GEO-2 core structure and propulsion
subsystem was recently completed and sent to Sunnyvale in December 2008.
...But the work on SBIRS is far from over. In June 2009 the Air Force awarded
Lockheed Martin a $1.5 billion contract for the third highly elliptical orbit
payload, the third geosynchronous orbit satellite and associated ground
modifications for the SBIRS constellation. A contract to include a fourth HEO
payload and possible fourth GEO satellite is expected to be awarded later this
year.
AEHF
...The Air Force's Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system is a
joint service satellite system to provide global, highly secure, protected, jam-
resistant, survivable communications for high-priority military ground, sea, and
air assets.
...The AEHF satellites are designed to replace the five-satellite 1990s-era Milstar
system. The new satellites provide, according to Lockheed and the military, 10
to 100 times the capacity of Milstar satellites, the first of which launched aboard
a Titan IV in 1994.
...Higher data rates than the Milstar II permit transmission of tactical military
communications such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data.
...The AEHF system will be integrated into the Milstar constellation and will be
backward compatible with Milstar's low data rate and medium data rate
capabilities, while providing extended data rates and larger capacity.
...The original plan called for three cross-linked AEHF satellites placed in
geosynchronous earth orbit to be augmented by a Transformational
Communications Satellite. But in April 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates
recommended canceling TSAT and as an interim replacement strategy
recommended fielding two additional AEHF satellites. Congress has already
approved a fourth AEHF, so Gates’ recommendation brought the count to six
AEHFs.
...Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space & Technology Center personnel have
worked on the core propulsion modules for the AEHF program, and based on
more recent Pentagon decisions additional work will be coming.
...The first of the AEHF satellites is scheduled to launch in September 2010.
MUOS
...The Navy’s Mobile User Objective System has four geosynchronous satellites
and one on-orbit spare. It’s a narrowband military satellite communications
system that supports multi-service, mobile and fixed-site terminal users in the
ultra high frequency band.
...In October 2008 the largest A2100 spacecraft core structure ever built by
Lockheed Martin was delivered from Stennis to Lockheed’s facilities in
Sunnyvale. The core structure is the first satellite in the MUOS constellation,
and features third generation mobile technology.
...The company has signed deals to make the first two MUOS satellites plus
options for three additional spacecraft.
...But there’s more to come, including the GPS III series. This is the new
generation of satellites that will replace the old network that needs to be
upgraded to continue providing GPS for cell phones, cars, handheld devices and
more. And the future has just begun. - David Tortorano
July 2009
largely unknown role in defense and commercial satellite programs…
...Advanced satellites being built today by Lockheed Martin all have a stamp -
figurative if not literal - that says “made in South Mississippi.”
...And it’s likely few from outside of Lockheed Martin know Mississippi’s
pivotal role in this most high-tech of the high-tech fields.
...The seven-year-old Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space & Technology Center
builds satellite propulsion cores and multi-layer insulation blankets for
government and commercial satellites that are based on Lockheed Martin’s
award-winning A2100 spacecraft series.
...There are plenty of satellites that use the A2100, but most of the time you
won’t hear the name. That’s because it’s a core component of spacecraft that
go by other names: the Defense Department’s Space-Based Infrared System,
Advanced Extremely High Frequency system and Mobile User Objective
System, and the commercial field’s AMC, JCSAT, B-SAT and more.
...The part of the A2100 developed and made at Stennis is essential to
maneuver the satellite during transfer orbit to its final location, and to conduct
on-orbit repositioning. The blankets are just as critical to protect the sensitive
satellite equipment from the extreme temperatures of space.
The center
...The 220,000 square-foot space and technology center is an advanced
propulsion, thermal, and metrology facility at John C. Stennis Space Center that
opened in August 2002. Just before it opened, Lockheed decided to change its
name to “space & technology center” to reflect Lockheed’s decision to use the
facility for a more expansive role.
...Lockheed Martin Space Systems, headquartered in Sunnyvale, Calif.,
operates the spacecraft propulsion and thermal system product center. But the
facility is also occupied by Lockheed Martin’s Information Systems and Global
Services unit, which has a metrology center that provides engineering and
manufacturing services.
...Combined they have about 150 employees.
...At the heart of the work done at Stennis is a versatile satellite that has found
multiple uses. The A2100 has a modular design to reduce parts and simplify
construction, as well as reduce weight and cost. It can be configured in different
sizes, certainly a plus that allows for a variety of uses. The series, which has
both civilian and military versions - designed A2100M - has received several
awards for reliability.
...All the core units are shipped to Stennis from Lockheed in Sunnyvale. Once
the work here is finished, the unit is then sent back to Sunnyvale for additional
work and integration with the satellite’s payload. From there the completed
satellite is shipped to a launch site such as Cape Canaveral Air Force Station,
Fla., or another location, depending upon the customer. Some of Lockheed
Stennis’ earlier handiwork wound up in Russia for launch aboard a Proton
rocket. They have been placed atop a variety of launch vehicles.
...Many of the satellites serve civilian purposes. But it may well be the Defense
Department work that is the most notable. At least three satellite systems begin
built by Lockheed Martin and its partners for the Defense Department provide
our warfighters with everything from secure communications to battle space
awareness. Closer to home, they provide the nation with early warning of
ballistic missile attacks.
SBIRS
...The Air Force’s Space-Based Infrared System is a next generation satellite
system designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and at the same
time support other missions including missile defense, technical intelligence and
battle space awareness. It’s one of the Air Force Space Command's highest
priority space systems.
...The SBIRS program consists of groups of satellites and payloads - called a
constellation: SBIRS, the next-generation satellites now being built by Lockheed
and its partners, and the satellites of the already deployed, 30-year-old Defense
Support Program (DSP).
...DSP consists of multiple satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit that provide
tactical warning, attack assessment and nuclear detonation detection.
...When fully operational, SBIRS will include two payloads in highly elliptical
orbit (HEO), four in geosynchronous orbit (GEO) along with fixed and mobile
ground units. It will ultimately replace DSP. The two HEO payloads, one
delivered in August 2004 and the other in September 2005, are already on orbit
aboard classified satellites.
...The GEO systems are still being built. GEO-1 will be delivered to the Air
Force in fiscal year 2010 to be launched aboard an Atlas V from Cape
Canaveral Air Force Base, Fla. The GEO-2 core structure and propulsion
subsystem was recently completed and sent to Sunnyvale in December 2008.
...But the work on SBIRS is far from over. In June 2009 the Air Force awarded
Lockheed Martin a $1.5 billion contract for the third highly elliptical orbit
payload, the third geosynchronous orbit satellite and associated ground
modifications for the SBIRS constellation. A contract to include a fourth HEO
payload and possible fourth GEO satellite is expected to be awarded later this
year.
AEHF
...The Air Force's Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) system is a
joint service satellite system to provide global, highly secure, protected, jam-
resistant, survivable communications for high-priority military ground, sea, and
air assets.
...The AEHF satellites are designed to replace the five-satellite 1990s-era Milstar
system. The new satellites provide, according to Lockheed and the military, 10
to 100 times the capacity of Milstar satellites, the first of which launched aboard
a Titan IV in 1994.
...Higher data rates than the Milstar II permit transmission of tactical military
communications such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data.
...The AEHF system will be integrated into the Milstar constellation and will be
backward compatible with Milstar's low data rate and medium data rate
capabilities, while providing extended data rates and larger capacity.
...The original plan called for three cross-linked AEHF satellites placed in
geosynchronous earth orbit to be augmented by a Transformational
Communications Satellite. But in April 2009, Defense Secretary Robert Gates
recommended canceling TSAT and as an interim replacement strategy
recommended fielding two additional AEHF satellites. Congress has already
approved a fourth AEHF, so Gates’ recommendation brought the count to six
AEHFs.
...Lockheed Martin Mississippi Space & Technology Center personnel have
worked on the core propulsion modules for the AEHF program, and based on
more recent Pentagon decisions additional work will be coming.
...The first of the AEHF satellites is scheduled to launch in September 2010.
MUOS
...The Navy’s Mobile User Objective System has four geosynchronous satellites
and one on-orbit spare. It’s a narrowband military satellite communications
system that supports multi-service, mobile and fixed-site terminal users in the
ultra high frequency band.
...In October 2008 the largest A2100 spacecraft core structure ever built by
Lockheed Martin was delivered from Stennis to Lockheed’s facilities in
Sunnyvale. The core structure is the first satellite in the MUOS constellation,
and features third generation mobile technology.
...The company has signed deals to make the first two MUOS satellites plus
options for three additional spacecraft.
...But there’s more to come, including the GPS III series. This is the new
generation of satellites that will replace the old network that needs to be
upgraded to continue providing GPS for cell phones, cars, handheld devices and
more. And the future has just begun. - David Tortorano
July 2009
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |