SBSS (Minotaur 4 launched on Sept. 26th, 2010)

[Zipi]

Launch window: 04:41-04:55 GMT (12:41-12:55 am EDT)
Launch site: SLC-8, Vandenberg Air Force Base, California

The Air Force Minotaur 4 rocket will launch the first satellite of the Space-Based Surveillance System. SBSS will join a network of ground sensors that track satellites in orbit around Earth. The launch will be the second flight of the Minotaur 4 rocket, which is partially comprised of retired Peacekeeper motors. Delayed from Oct. 23, Oct. 30 and April

SBSS Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Base ... rveillance
Boeing SBSS Page: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/spa ... /sbss.html
Boeing SBSS Product Card: http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/spa ... t_Card.pdf
GlobalSecurity.org SBSS Article: http://www.globalsecurity.org/space/systems/sbss.htm

Minotaur IV Launch Vehicle

Minotaur IV (also known as Peacekeeper SLV and OSP-2 PK) is derived from Peacekeeper missile.

Minotaur IV Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur_IV
Minotaur Rocket Family Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minotaur_(rocket_family)
Orbital Sciences Minotaur IV Fact Sheet: http://www.orbital.com/NewsInfo/Publica ... V_Fact.pdf
Orbital Sciences Mitonaur IV Page: http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/IV/
Orbital Sciences Minotaur Page: http://www.orbital.com/SpaceLaunch/Minotaur/

Rocket Stages

All Minotaur IV rocked stages are powered by solid rocket motors.

First Stage: SR-118, 2200kN thrust
Second Stage: SR-119, 1365kN thrust, 54 seconds
Third Stage: SR-120, 329kN thrust, 62 seconds
Fourth Stage: Orion-38, 32,2kN thrust, 67,7 seconds (or optional Star-48V with 68,6kN thrust, 84,1 seconds)

Vandenberg Air Force Base

Vandenberg AFB Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg_Air_Force_Base
SLC-8 Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vandenberg ... _Complex_8
Spaceport Systems International SLC-8 Page: http://www.calspace.com/SSI/SLC-8_Overview.html
SSI MAT Features: http://www.calspace.com/SSI/SLC-8_Mod_Summary.html
SSI SLC-8 Map & Features: http://www.calspace.com/SSI/CLF_%28SLC- ... South.html
Astronautix SLC-8 Page: http://www.astronautix.com/sites/vangslc8.htm
Vandenberg AFB Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=34.72972 ... 120.576944
SLC-8 Google Maps Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 4&t=h&z=17

 

[RVHM]

Re: July 9, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

These Peacekeeper-based rockets are the pride of the US Air Force!

 

[3488]

Space-Based Space Surveillance Satellite.

US Air Force Space-Based Space Surveillance Satellite to monitor space junk.

Article Here.

Launch scheduled for Thursday 8th July 2010 from Vandenburg Air Force Base.

Andrew Brown.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Re: Space-Based Space Surveillance Satellite.

Excerpt from article:

"If all goes as planned, the Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite, scheduled for a July 8 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., will have an unobstructed, around-the-clock view of the increasingly heavy traffic in Earth orbit - something the Air Force doesn't have now.

Currently, the Air Force relies on a ground-based network of radar and optical telescopes around the globe to monitor about 1,000 active satellites and 20,000 pieces of debris. The telescopes can be used only on clear nights, and not all radar stations are powerful enough to detect satellites in deep space orbit, about 22,000 miles from Earth.

From its orbit about 390 miles above the Earth, the new satellite will have a clear view of deep space, unaffected by daylight or weather.

"It really has tremendous capabilities," said Todd Citron, director of advanced space and intelligence systems for Boeing Co., prime contractor for the satellite, known as SBSS.

Citron said SBSS will revolutionize "space situational awareness," the military term for knowing not only where the objects are, but where they're headed and what might be in their path.

An Air Force official was more cautious.

"We do know that the sensor is going to provide a lot of capability," said Col. J.R. Jordan, mission director for the SBSS launch and vice commander of the Air Force Space Superiority Systems Wing. "We haven't really come up with broad statements" about how much SBSS is expected to improve monitoring, Jordan said."....

 

[Zipi]

Re: Space-Based Space Surveillance Satellite.

Launch thread: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=24855

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: July 18, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

http://www.physorg.com : New US satellite to monitor debris in Earth orbit

July 3, 2010

By DAN ELLIOTT , Associated Press Writer


(AP) -- A new U.S. Air Force satellite will provide the first full-time, space-based surveillance of hundreds of satellites and thousands of pieces of debris that could crash into American and allied assets circling the Earth.

If all goes as planned, the Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite, scheduled for a July 8 launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., will have an unobstructed, around-the-clock view of the increasingly heavy traffic in Earth orbit - something the Air Force doesn't have now.

More information: Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.: http://www.ballaerospace.com/
Boeing Co. Defense, Space & Security: http://www.boeing.com/bds/
Schriever Air Force Base: http://www.schriever.af.mil/
Secure World Foundation: http://www.secureworldfoundation.org/
Vandenberg Air Force Base: http://www.vandenberg.af.mil/

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: July 18, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

http://www.satellitetoday.com : Air Force SBSS Launch Postponed

July 8, 2010 | Satellite Today | Staff Writer

[Satellite TODAY 07-08-10] The U.S. Air Force has postponed a scheduled July 8 Minotaur 4 launch carrying the Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) due to an anomaly discovered on another Minotaur 4 rocket during testing, the Air Force announced July 7. The test identified a software...

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: July 18, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

www.spaceflightnow.com : Better safe than sorry: Rocket software being fixed

BY JUSTIN RAY

SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Posted: July 8, 2010

An improbable pitfall discovered in the Minotaur rocket's flight software, posing only a minuscule chance of ruining a mission, nevertheless will be patched before the booster launches a unique space surveillance craft, officials explained Thursday.

Liftoff from the southern pad at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California had been scheduled for Thursday night. But the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite launch was placed on hold after rocket-maker Orbital Sciences found a timing flaw in the Minotaur's software while preparing a different vehicle for a planned September flight from Alaska.

"The anomaly occurred during preliminary testing for our subsequent launch of the Space Test Program's S26 mission. Our investigation pointed to a problem with the common launch vehicle software that's used on all our missions. This required that we assess impacts to the SBSS launch," said Col. Mike Moran, commander of the Space Development and Test Wing at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico.

"To date, the government and industry team has performed troubleshooting, developed the needed software fixes and is now beginning formal testing of the software updates. When we are confident that the launch vehicle issue is fully resolved as demonstrated through successful testing, we will re-establish a launch date and resume normal launch processing."

Concerns were raised when software testing revealed a potential launch failure scenario during simulations being run at Orbital's facilities in Chandler, Arizona. After ruling out other causes, engineers determined that the software itself had a bug.

"The test failure that we observed on STP S26 was a failure of the mission sequencing and a failure to successfully execute the mission in one of the 1,000 tests," Kettner said. "In the test that we saw, it did result in the halting of communications from the flight computer and a failure of that particular mission (simulation)."

"The actual procedure to load and verify the new software takes between half-a-day to a full day. We can accomplish that and the rest flow, I think, within 14 days," said Kettner.

A specific new launch date hasn't been selected yet.

"Our focus is on mission success," Moran said. "When we are ready to launch, we will."

 

[Zipi]

Re: Sept. 26, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

Bump up: New launch date has been set and it is September 26, 2010.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 26, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

SDC : U.S. Military's Plans for Next Space Surveillance Satellite Delayed

By Turner Brinton
Space News
posted: 18 September 2010
02:29 pm ET



WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has delayed its planned competition to build a second Space Based Space Surveillance satellite, a service official said Sept. 16.

...

The service in April announced plans to hold an open competition to build a second SBSS satellite with requirements identical to the first. Plans at the time called for awarding a contract to build the satellite in early 2011 with a launch to occur in late 2014.

However, the release of a final request for proposals for the SBSS follow-on satellite will now take place no sooner than early 2011, Air Force spokesman Joe Davidson said.

"The Air Force is committed to delivering capability on time, consistent with warfighter requirements and funding," Davidson said in an e-mailed response to questions. "Our current plan is to release the final request for proposal no sooner than [the first quarter of 2011] and contract award will be timed appropriately following [its] release."

 

[Zipi]

Re: Sept. 26, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

Yet another bump up since this is the next scheduled launch.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 26, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

boeing.mediaroom.com : Boeing Space Based Space Surveillance Satellite Ready for Launch

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.,

Sept. 21, 2010

-- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] and its teammate Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. today announced that the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite and ground system have completed final testing. The satellite is scheduled to be launched Sept. 25 from Vandenberg Air Force Base in Lompoc, Calif.

....

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 26, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

SDC : Air Force to Launch Satellite to Keep Close Eye on Space Junk

By Denise Chow
SPACE.com Staff Writer
posted: 24 September 2010
01:54 pm ET



A new U.S. Air Force satellite built to track space junk and other spacecraft orbiting Earth is set to launch tomorrow (Sept. 25) from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

The Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite, called SBSS, is part of an evolving goal to dramatically improve awareness of space debris and other objects around our planet, Air Force officials said.

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 26, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

http://www.vandenberg.af.mil : Vandenberg launches Minotaur IV

Posted 9/26/2010 Updated 9/26/2010

Release Number: 080910

9/26/2010 - VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- Team Vandenberg launched a Minotaur IV rocket at 9:41 p.m. Sept. 25 from Space Launch Complex-8 here.

The Minotaur IV launched the Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite, a first-of-its-kind satellite that can detect and track orbiting space objects from space.

The 30th Space Wing commander, Col. Richard Boltz, was the launch decision authority.

"SBSS will greatly enhance our existing space situational awareness capability, a capability vital to protecting our space-based assets," said Colonel Boltz. "This evening's launch was our third launch in eight days, and I am extremely proud of Team Vandenberg for all the hard work and dedication they've put into these important missions."

This launch was a combined effort between the 30th Space Wing, Orbital Sciences Corporation, The Boeing Company, Ball Aerospace and the Space and Missile Systems Center.

The Minotaur IV launch vehicle provides the ability to deliver payloads up to 3000 kilograms on long range, suborbital trajectories. It utilizes residual Peacekeeper solid rocket motors combined with Orbital's commercial launch vehicle technologies.

http://www.spaceflightnow.com : Liftoff of the Minotaur 4 rocket

These spectacular long-exposure images show the Minotaur 4 rocket streaking to orbit with the Space Base Space Surveillance satellite from Vandenberg Air Force Base's Space Launch Complex 8 at 9:41 p.m. PDT.

Photo credit: Gene Blevins/LA Daily News

..

..


[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKQhVMeeU6s[/youtube]

simmisuper | September 25, 2010

Launch of Minotaur IV with SBSS at 26.09.10 from T-10 sec to 3rd Stage Burnout

 

[EarthlingX]

Re: Sept. 26, Minotaur 4 - SBSS

SDC : Air Force Launches Satellite to Track Space Junk Around Earth

By Denise Chow
SPACE.com Staff Writer
posted: 26 September 2010
12:47 am ET

This story was updated at 2:40 a.m. ET.



The U.S. Air Force lit up the night sky above California Saturday (Sept. 25) with the launch a new satellite sentinel to keep tabs on other spacecraft and the growing problem of space junk around Earth.

The Space-Based Space Surveillance satellite, called SBSS, will monitor the orbital environment as part of the U.S. military's evolving Space Surveillance Network.

The satellite blasted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base atop a Minotaur 4 rocket at 9:41 p.m. PDT (0441 GMT). Air Force officials said the rocket reached its intended orbit and deployed the SBSS spacecraft as planned.

...

 

[EarthlingX]

More details and background :

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com : Minotaur IV launches first Space Based Space Surveillance satellite

September 25th, 2010

by William Graham

An Orbital Minotaur IV has made its first orbital launch during the early hours of Sunday morning, carrying the first Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite for the US Air Force and Missile Defense Agency. The launch - from Vandenberg Air Force Base – was on schedule, at the start of a 14 minute window, whiched opened at 04:41 UTC (21:41 local time on Saturday).

...

 

[EarthlingX]

boeing.mediaroom.com : 1st SBSS Satellite Sends Initial Signals from Space

EL SEGUNDO, Calif.,

Sept. 26, 2010

-- The Boeing Company [NYSE: BA] has acquired initial on-orbit signals from the first Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) satellite following its launch at 9:41 p.m. Pacific time on Sept. 25 from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The signals indicate that the satellite is functioning normally and is ready to begin orbital maneuvers and operational testing.

The SBSS Block 10 satellite, which was built for the U.S. Air Force by a Boeing-led team that includes Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., was launched by an Orbital Sciences Minotaur IV rocket. The first signals from the advanced space surveillance satellite were received a short time later. The Boeing SBSS Satellite Operations Center at Schriever Air Force Base, Colo., confirmed that the satellite is healthy.

When it goes into operation with the Air Force, the SBSS satellite will be the service’s only space-based sensor capable of detecting and monitoring debris, satellites and other space objects without the disruptions from weather, atmosphere or time of day that limit ground-based observations. The satellite and its ground system will dramatically improve the accuracy and timeliness of tracking and monitoring capabilities, and provide the flexibility to quickly respond to new and changing mission requirements.

“The United States depends on space assets for security, communications, weather forecasting, and many other essential services,” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager, Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems. “America’s adversaries recognize this increasing dependence, which makes the need for enhanced space situational awareness more and more vital. Today, the Air Force and Boeing SBSS team are delivering this advanced capability to the nation.”

Shortly after launch, the SBSS satellite began an automated sequence that deployed solar arrays, pointed them at the sun, and initialized satellite operations. For the next two weeks, operators will perform health checks on the satellite bus, followed by payload checkout. Tests include sending simulated space situational awareness tasks to the SBSS Satellite Operations Center, which will send commands to the satellite and collect data from those tasks for the Air Force Joint Space Operations Center. The SBSS system is expected to be ready to perform its mission and be turned over to the Air Force within 60 days.

“The successful launch of SBSS is an important milestone to ensure that this nation’s assets are protected,” said David L. Taylor, president and CEO of Ball Aerospace. “We are proud to be a leader in providing critical technology development to the Air Force’s space situational awareness mission.”

Boeing is responsible for overall program management; systems engineering and integration; design and development of the SBSS Satellite Operations Center at Schriever; and system operations and maintenance. Ball Aerospace developed, designed, manufactured, integrated and tested the satellite, using the Boeing-built onboard mission data processor.

...

 

[ArkRoyal1950]

This is a great step forward for this country having the SBSS in orbit performing vital SSA.

 

[EarthlingX]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com : Orbital inspector operating smoothly following launch

BY JUSTIN RAY

Posted: October 6, 2010

The U.S. military's new space surveillance observatory has begun maneuvering toward its operational perch to track orbital objects without the hindrances imposed on ground-based monitors.

Artist's concept of the SBSS spacecraft. Credit: Ball Aerospace

The Space Based Space Surveillance satellite successfully launched atop a Minotaur 4 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on September 25, reaching its temporary orbit 336 miles high.

"Since we launched, things have gone fantastic. We have kicked off a long series of firsts -- first acquisition, first commanding, turned on the buses, turned on the star trackers, moved the gimbals, turned on GPS. So things are ticking along and we're making great progress," said Lt. Col. Robert Erickson, SBSS Space Situational Awareness Squadron commander.

"This morning, we did the first of three scheduled burns to raise our orbit. There will be three sets of those, so there's actually a total of 9 burns. We've done the first one, we'll do the next one in a little bit and another one later in the day," Erickson said in a telephone interview.

The burns are designed to gradually increase the satellite's altitude to 391 miles, achieving the south-to-north, sun-synchronous mission orbit.

...

The first two months of the SBSS mission is spent testing the system and ensuring it meets the expected requirements. That's followed by a characterization period to define the satellite's capabilities. It should be operational in about six months, Erickson said.

..

 

[3488]

Thanks EarthlingX.

Fantastic news that SBSS appears to be operating perfectly after launch. This is an important satellite for sure. Information gained will be of immense importance.

Andrew Brown.