[SatNews] A new sensor has been delivered for a now-being-manufactured communications satellite.

SES WORLD SKIES, U.S. Government Solutions, has delivered the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) sensor assembly to Dulles, VA-based satellite manufacturer, Orbital Sciences Corporation (NYSE: ORB). The sensor will be installed on SES-2, an SES WORLD SKIES communications satellite currently in production. The arrival of the sensor developed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) represents an important milestone for Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) in their objective to test the potential of wide field-of-view, staring infrared sensors for a range of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) missions. Prior to shipment, the sensor completed a calibration campaign at the Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) in Logan, UT. Major Craig Phillips, CHIRP Program Manager at SMC, stated, “We are excited about the measured sensitivity of the instrument at SDL. Wide field-of-view sensors improve detection and collection by continuously staring over a wide area of interest which is key for meeting future OPIR requirements. Furthermore, wide field-of-view staring sensors eliminate the need for mechanical gimbals, thereby simplifying spacecraft installation and mission management.”

The next step for the CHIRP sensor will be a series of electrical interface tests. Brent Armand, Program Manager at Orbital explained, “We will test the CHIRP sensor with a set of electronics known as the Secondary Payload Interface (SPI). The SPI is a key enabler for hosting military payloads because it provides a secure, two-way communication channel to the government payload through a standard commercial telecommunication transponder. After checking the electrical interfaces, Orbital and SAIC technicians will mount the sensor to the earth-facing panel of the satellite for full-up spacecraft mechanical and thermal testing.”