NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

SBIRS GEO-5

Launch Time
Tue May 18, 2021 17:37 UTC

Rocket

Atlas V 421
Image Credit: ULA
ULA
Status: Retired
Price: $123.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 7,152 kN
Payload to LEO: 13,600 kg
Payload to GTO: 6,890 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 2
Rocket Height: 58.3 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.2 m
Fairing Height: 13.8 m

Mission Details

SBIRS GEO-5

The Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) is a consolidated system intended to meet the United States' infrared space surveillance needs through the first two to three decades of the 21st century. The SBIRS program is designed to provide key capabilities in the areas of missile warning, missile defense and battlespace characterization via satellites in geosynchronous earth orbit (GEO), sensors hosted on satellites in highly elliptical orbit (HEO), and ground-based data processing and control. SBIRS ground software integrates infrared sensor programs of the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with new IR sensors.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 4,500.0 kg
Geostationary Transfer Orbit

TDO 3 & 4

TDO (Technology Demonstrator Orbiter) 3 & 4 (also known as EZ 3 & 4) are experimental 12U cubesats flown for the United States Air Force Academy.

Payloads: 2
Low Earth Orbit

Location

SLC-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

2021

44th orbital launch attempt

United Launch Alliance

144th mission
2nd mission of 2021
143rd successful mission
139th consecutive successful mission

Atlas V

87th mission
1st mission of 2021
86th successful mission
77th consecutive successful mission