Comtech AeroAstro, Inc., has successfully delivered the first spacecraft bus for the U.S. Air Force's Space Test Program Standard Interface Vehicle (STP-SIV) satellite program.

This event marks the successful completion of the electrical and mechanical integration of all spacecraft components, as well as bus functional performance testing. The spacecraft bus is being developed under contract to Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. for the DoD Space Test Program headquartered at Kirtland AFB. STP-SIV provides a small, highly capable bus platform with standardized payload interfaces that is compatible with a wide variety of launch vehicles and operates without modification in a range of low earth orbits. Over the next several months, Comtech AeroAstro engineers will support Ball Aerospace as the company completes final bus testing, integrates the satellite payloads, and performs functional and environmental tests of the STP-SIV space vehicle to ensure nominal performance. The first STP-SIV is currently scheduled for launch on a Minotaur IV from the AADC Kodiak Launch Complex, along with three other spacecraft, in late 2009. This project is sponsored by the U.S.A.F.'s Air Force Space Command, Space and Missile System Center, Space Development and Test Wing, at Kirtland AFB in New Mexico.