When launched in spring 2009, SBSS will revolutionize the nation's Space Situational Awareness with enhanced performance by providing around-the-clock visibility to detect distant space objects without interference from weather, atmosphere or daylight. Boeing's teammate, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., performed the space vehicle integration and functional testing and has demonstrated that the space vehicle meets all of its performance requirements. Previous testing of the satellite's payload demonstrated that performance requirements were met over simulated environments. The SBSS team demonstrated end-to-end mission functionality starting with the generation of mission plans in the Satellite Operations Center at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado, in response to simulated tasking. These plans were sent via the encrypted Air Force satellite control network to command the flight space vehicle in Boulder, Colorado, to take images using the payload optics. The Boeing-led team has also demonstrated progress toward operational readiness by completing the second full mission exercise. The exercise employed complete mission scenario using the SBSS ground segment and a space vehicle simulator.
(SBSS image courtesy of Boeing)