Space Travel News  
Americom Government Services To Host US Air Force Payload

-
by Staff Writers
McLean VA (SPX) Jul 09, 2008
Satellite solutions provider Americom Government Services (AGS) has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to host an experimental sensor on board a commercial spacecraft.

The three year $65 million firm fixed price contract was signed on June 30th with the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) in Los Angeles, CA. AGS will host the experimental sensor on board an SES Americom spacecraft scheduled to launch in 2010 and operate over the United States.

The program is known as the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) Flight Demonstration Program. The primary purpose of the CHIRP experiment is to test a new type of infrared sensor from geo-synchronous altitude. The passive infrared sensor will be integrated onto a commercial satellite so that it can be launched into orbit and the data can then be transmitted to the ground for analysis.

Tip Osterthaler, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGS noted, "We are honored to have been chosen by the U.S. Air Force to participate in this groundbreaking effort. We believe that the commercial satellite industry can provide tremendous value to government customers who are looking for affordable access to space for experiments such as CHIRP."

AGS has subcontracted with Orbital Sciences for the integration of the sensor to the spacecraft. The wide-field-of-view sensor will be developed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as a subcontractor to Orbital Sciences.

In addition to hosting the experiment, AGS, Orbital and SAIC will provide validation and assessment services to determine the utility of the sensor in terms of data, performance validation and interoperability. This experiment is designed to help the SMC reduce technology risk for the Third Generation Infrared Surveillance program earlier than what would be possible with a dedicated satellite.

Americom Government Services, Inc. (AGS), an independent corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of SES AMERICOM, Inc., is exclusively focused on meeting the satellite communication needs of the U.S. Government. Leveraging more than three decades of experience in the government SATCOM market, AGS offers robust and secure satellite-based communications solutions.

Related Links
Americom Government Services (AGS)
Space Technology News - Applications and Research



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Thales Alenia Space To Cooperate With IAI In The Amos-4 Satellite
Cannes, France (SPX) Jul 09, 2008
Thales Alenia Space announces a contract with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), acting through its Systems Missiles and Space Group, MBT Space Division, to supply RF communication assemblies for the Amos-4 communication satellite.







  • NASA Plans To Test Space Shuttle Replacement In Spring 2009
  • ATK Receives Contract For US Air Force Sounding Rocket Contract
  • SpaceX Conducts Static Test Firing Of Next Falcon 1 Rocket
  • Pratt And Whitney Rocketdyne Contract Option For Solar Thermal Propulsion Rocket Engine

  • ELA-3 Launch Zone Receives Its Fourth Ariane 5 Of 2008
  • Arianespace Launches ProtoStar I For Asian DTH Market
  • Inmarsat And ILS Set August 14 For Proton Flight With Inmarsat Satellite
  • Russia Launches Rocket With Military Satellite

  • NASA shuttle to take last flight in May 2010
  • Disaster plan in place for Hubble mission
  • US space shuttle lands safely after installing Japanese lab
  • Space shuttle cleared to land, loose object poses no risk

  • NASA plans two ISS spacewalks next week
  • Shuttle astronauts bid farewell to space station crew
  • Discovery undocks from ISS
  • Shuttle Astronauts Bid Farewell To Space Station Crew

  • Secure World Foundation Receives United Nations Permanent Observer Status
  • Boeing Submits Offer For NASA Facilities Development And Operations Contract
  • Russia seals agreement with private investor for space tourism
  • Analex Awarded Three-Year Option On NASA Expendable Launch Vehicles Integrated Support

  • China Makes Breakthrough In Developing Next-Generation Long March Rocket
  • Shenzhou VII Research Crew Ready To Set Out For Launch Center
  • China's Shot Heard Around The Galaxy
  • A Better Focus On Shenzhou

  • Eight Teams Taking Up ESA's Lunar Robotics Challenge
  • Three Engineers, Hundreds of Robots, One Warehouse
  • Tartalo The Robot Is Knocking On Your Door
  • Sega, Hasbro unveil new dancing robot

  • Will We Ever Reach Mars
  • Phoenix Set To Bake Some Ice-Rich Samples This Week
  • Mars Sample Return: The Next Step In Exploring The Red Planet
  • Rain Showers On Mars

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement