Boeing Completes SBSS Pathfinder Integrated Baseline Review

ST. LOUIS, Nov. 3/Satnews Daily/ ¾ Boeing [NYSE: BA] has announced that in partnership with Northrop Grumman Mission Systems, the Mission Area Prime Integration Contractor, it has successfully completed the Integrated Baseline Review (IBR) for the Space Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) system.

Boeing said this is a significant program milestone that precedes the Preliminary Design Review (PDR).

"SBSS Pathfinder is an essential element in providing space situational awareness capability for the warfighter," said John Fuller, vice president of Air Force Space Systems for Boeing. "Our team's successful completion of the IBR confirms Boeing is progressing on schedule and leading a mature, executable program."

Under a contract awarded in March 2004, the Boeing team is responsible for development of a single "Pathfinder" satellite with visible sensor, the ground segment, and launch in 2007. The team will also be responsible for mission planning, mission data processing and operation of the system for up to one year prior to transitioning to the Air Force customer.

In offering a "Best of Industry" solution for the Pathfinder program, Boeing teamed with Ball Aerospace to provide the spacecraft. Ball successfully completed the Space Vehicle Integrated Baseline Review on July 21 at its facility in Boulder, Colo., a major program milestone preceding the Boeing review.

The SBSS Objective System will consist of a constellation of satellites that will detect and track orbiting space objects, including potential threats to America's space assets and orbital debris. The Department of Defense will utilize data generated by the system to support military operations. SBSS is expected to achieve a quantum leap beyond current ground-based systems, which do not currently operate with the timeliness required to detect small objects in deep space.

The SBSS Pathfinder program is jointly managed by the U.S. Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., Northrop Grumman Space Technologies, Los Angeles, Calif., and Boeing Air Force Systems, Long Beach, Calif., a business unit of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

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