USA-282
{{Short description|United States military satellite}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox spaceflight
| name = USA-282
| names_list = SBIRS GEO-4 (SV-3)
Space-Based Infrared System GEOstationary-4
| image = SBIRS GEO-3.jpg
| image_caption = SBIRS GEO-4 satellite in orbit
| image_size = 300px
| mission_type = Infrared early warning
IRINT
| operator = United States Air Force / United States Space Force
| COSPAR_ID = 2018-009A
| SATCAT = 43162
| website = https://www.spaceforce.mil/
| mission_duration = 12 years (planned)
{{time interval|20 January 2018|show=ymd}} (in progress)
| spacecraft = SBIRS GEO-4
| spacecraft_type = SBIRS GEO
| spacecraft_bus = A2100M
| manufacturer = Lockheed Martin Space
| launch_mass = {{cvt|4500|kg}}
| dry_mass =
| dimensions = 15 m x 6.7 m x 6.1 m
| power =
| launch_date = 20 January 2018, 00:48 UTC{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2018/01/20/u-s-military-satellite-launched-to-fortify-against-missile-attacks|title=U.S. military satellite launched to fortify against missile attacks|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=20 January 2018|access-date=16 May 2021}}
| launch_rocket = Atlas V 411 (AV-076)
| launch_site = Cape Canaveral (CCAFS),
SLC-41
| launch_contractor = United Launch Alliance (ULA)
| entered_service =
| disposal_type =
| deactivated =
| last_contact =
| orbit_reference = Geocentric orbit
| orbit_regime = Geostationary orbit
| orbit_longitude =
| apsis = gee
| instruments = 2 SBIRS infrared sensors
| insignia =
| insignia_caption =
| insignia_size = 200px
| programme = Space-Based Infrared System program
| previous_mission = SBIRS GEO-3
| next_mission = SBIRS GEO-5
}}
USA-282, also known as SBIRS GEO-4,{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/01/atlas-v-sbirs-geo-4-launch-cape-canaveral/|title=Atlas V launches with SBIRS GEO-4 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=19 January 2018|access-date=17 May 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/sbirs-geo-1.htm|title=SBIRS GEO-1, -2, -3, -4 |publisher=Gunter's Space Page|date=4 November 2020|access-date=16 May 2021}} is a United States military satellite and part of the Space-Based Infrared System.
Overview
The SBIRS program was designed to provide a seamless operational transition from DSP to SBIRS and meet jointly-defined requirements of the defense and intelligence communities in support of the missile early warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness and technical intelligence mission areas.{{cite web|url=https://www.spaceforce.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Article/2197746/space-based-infrared-system/|title=Fact Sheets: Space Based Infrared System|publisher=USSF|date=October 2020|access-date=16 May 2021}} {{PD-notice}}
The SBIRS satellites are a replacement for the Defense Support Program (DSP) early warning system. They are intended to detect ballistic missile launches, as well as various other events in the infrared spectrum, including nuclear explosions, aircraft flights, space object entries and reentries, wildfires and spacecraft launches.
Satellite description
SBIRS GEO-4 was manufactured by Lockheed Martin Space, at production facility in Sunnyvale, California, and is built upon the A2100M satellite bus. The Atlas V launch vehicle used for SBIRS GEO-4 flew with a strap-on booster, a different configuration from the previous three SBIRS GEO launches. This was done as part of a space debris mitigation effort, to allow the Centaur upper stage to preserve sufficient fuel for a deorbit burn.{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/air-force-missile-warning-command-center-makes-contact-with-new-sbirs-satellite|title=Air Force missile-warning command center makes contact with new SBIRS satellite|publisher=SpaceNews|date=20 January 2018|access-date=16 May 2021}}
Launch
SBIRS GEO-4 was the third geostationary SBIRS satellite to be built, Satellite Vehicle 3 (SV-3). Construction of the satellite was completed before it was required to launch, so the spacecraft was placed into storage. The U.S. Air Force later opted to launch Satellite Vehicle 4 (SV-4) first as SBIRS GEO-3, saving the cost of putting the newly-completed SV-4 into storage and additional testing that would be needed upon taking it back out.
The Atlas V, with the tail number AV-076, flew in its 411 configuration. This Atlas V configuration differs from the 401 version used for the previous three SBIRS GEO launches – which did not use any solid rocket booster (SRB). The change of configuration has ostensibly been made to ensure Centaur can be deorbited after satellite separation, helping to mitigate space debris. On previous SBIRS GEO launches, Centaur has remained in a disposal orbit, close to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO), at the end of its mission.
It was launched on 20 January 2018 from Cape Canaveral (CCAFS), atop an Atlas V 411 launch vehicle.
Mission
The U.S. Air Force announced the satellite was operating as expected and had established initial communications with it.
References
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
{{Reflist|30em}}
{{Orbital launches in 2018}}
Category:Spacecraft launched in 2018
Category:Reconnaissance satellites of the United States