JUST IN: Final Satellite in Missile Warning System Scheduled for Launch
8/1/2022
By Josh Luckenbaugh
The last piece in the U.S. military’s space-based missile defense architecture is set to launch Thursday, Aug. 4.
This sixth and final Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous Earth Orbit, or SBIRS GEO, satellite will complete the missile warning satellite constellation, which consists of spacecraft in both geosynchronous and highly elliptical orbits. Along with missile warning and defense, the fleet carries out battlespace awareness and technical intelligence for the United States, Col. Daniel Walter, senior material leader for strategic missile warning acquisition at Space Systems Command, said during a media roundtable Aug. 1.
Since the launch of the first SBIRS GEO satellite in 2011, “the space domain has transitioned from a benign to contested and congested environment,” said Col. Brian Denaro, Space Force’s program executive officer for space sensing. “SBIRS GEO-6 provides another critical, unblinking eye to detect, track and defend against ballistic and hypersonic missile threat,” he added.
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2022/8/1/final-satellite-in-sbirs-constellation-to-launch-this-week
