Air 
Force officials at Kirtland AFB, N.M., are preparing for the late spring launch of ORS-1, the first-ever Operationally Responsive Space satellite. Defense Department officials conceived of this spacecraft only about 30 months ago to provide direct, rapid intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance support to theater commanders in Southwest Asia. The satellite features a modified version of Goodrich’s SYERS-2 electro-optical/infrared sensor that currently flies on U-2 surveillance aircraft. “Right now, the satellite is undergoing thermal vacuum testing, which is the last major significant milestone before we ship ORS-1 to the launch facility,” said Lt. Col. Tim Rade, ORS-1 program manager at Kirtland. The satellite is currently at Goodrich’s plant in Danbury, Conn. Plans are to ship it to NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility on the eastern shore of Virginia for its liftoff aboard a Minotaur I launch vehicle. Following launch, ORS-1 will undergo a 30-day, on-orbit checkout before commencing operations. (Kirtland release)
BAE Systems: A Trusted Partner in Aircraft Survivability
June 29, 2022
BAE Systems, Inc. has formed a unique relationship with the U.S. Air Force over the service’s 75-year history. As one of the world’s largest aerospace and defense technology companies, BAE Systems is trusted by the Air Force with highly classified work, particularly in the field of electronic warfare (EW).