Team Successfully Completes GEO-1 Command and Control Interface Testing

(Los Angeles AFB, Calif., July 29, 2010) -- Researchers in the Space Based Infrared Systems program office at Air Force Space Command's Space and Missile Systems Center here successfully completed a major system-level test of the interfaces between all SBIRS ground facilities and the GEO-1 satellite, June 30.

"Successful completion of the 5001.2 system-level test demonstrates the program's positive progress towards delivery and launch," said Capt. James Palmer, the SBIRS Systems Test program manager.

The test successfully demonstrated the command and control capability of the GEO-1 satellite using the Tri-band Antenna/Modem Suite modem. The test also demonstrated the ability to perform the process of transmitting and receiving data between the ground system and the satellite using rapidly changing frequencies known as frequency hopping.

Twelve individual objectives were tested, which subsequently demonstrated critical operational functions and capabilities of the SBIRS GEO-1 ground and space system. A team of Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, The Aerospace Corporation and U.S. Air Force personnel conducted these tests for two days.

Source : US Air Force