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Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
18:10:00
Saturday May 7, 2011
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Official Livestream
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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.
Geostationary Transfer Orbit
1 Payload
4,500 kilograms
Agency
ULAPrice
$109.00 million
Rocket
Diameter: 3.81m
Height: 58.3m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 9,797 kg
GTO: 4,750 kg
Liftoff Thrust
3,826 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 4.2m
Height: 13.8m
Stages
2
26th
Mission
3rd
Mission of 2011
50th
Mission
5th
Mission of 2011
20th
Orbital launch attempt