PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colorado – Space Operations Command has accepted Space Based Infrared System Geosynchronous satellite 5 as operationally capable and has presented it to United States Space Command for operational use.
SBIRS GEO-5 launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida, on May 18, 2021. Since launch, experts from the satellite’s builder Lockheed-Martin, contract manager Space Systems Command and Space Operations Command’s Delta 4 have been completing checks to ensure the nation’s newest and most-capable missile warning satellite is ready to be added to the United States’ missile warning and missile defense architecture.
“The addition of SBIRS GEO-5 to our fleet of spacecraft will improve our nation’s missile warning, missile defense, battlespace awareness, and technical intelligence capabilities,” said Lt. Gen. Stephen Whiting, Commander of Space Operations Command. “The security of our nation, our allies, and our fielded forces depends on SBIRS and our Guardians every day.