CHARLOTTE, N.C., July 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Goodrich
Corporation (NYSE: GR): announced today that the ORS-1 satellite
has celebrated its first anniversary in space. ORS-1, the
first Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) satellite specifically
designed to support combatant command operations, was launched from
Wallops Island Flight Facility aboard a Minotaur I launch vehicle
on June 29, 2011, at 11:09 p.m. EDT.
Designed, manufactured, integrated and tested by Goodrich's ISR
Systems business in Danbury, CT,
ORS-1 is a 500Kg class satellite providing game-changing
impacts. In recognition of its ground breaking importance,
ORS-1 was named one of the nation's 25 most important concepts by
C4ISR Journal in 2011.
Initiated to fulfill requirements from the Commander of US
Strategic Command (STRATCOM) to support US Central Command
(CENTCOM), the satellite went from the drawing board to delivery in
30 months. Less than 90 days after launch, ORS-1 earned early
acceptance and has been satisfying CENTCOM's mission needs for
multispectral EO/IR imagery and enhanced battlespace awareness ever
since.
"The ORS-1 satellite has been meeting or exceeding expectations
since its launch. We continue to support the Government
operations team providing this valuable capability supporting
CENTCOM mission objectives," said Andreas
Nonnenmacher, vice president, Goodrich's ISR Systems
business.
"CENTCOM is extremely pleased with ORS-1. It has met or
exceeded its projected capabilities and additional capabilities and
applications continue to unfold. ORS-1 provides superb
collection... CENTCOM will continue to rely on its capabilities as
an integral component to our ISR architecture and collection plan,"
stated Colonel Berry, Chief, Intelligence Surveillance and
Reconnaissance Division, Directorate of Intelligence, Headquarters
Central Command.
Rapidly developing and fielding ORS-1 was an important step in
demonstrating the in-theater value of low-cost tactically focused
EO/IR satellites to meet emerging and persistent warfighter needs
in operationally relevant timelines. Moreover, ORS-1 has
demonstrated an alternative to the normal acquisition process for
space programs and its lower cost, when compared to more
traditional space-based ISR platforms, makes it an affordable
contributor to the ISR "force mix" in today's fiscally constrained
environment.
CENTCOM indicated they were "...extremely impressed with the
imagery they had gotten from ORS-1. They were not only happy
with the responsiveness of it, but they were also happy with the
quality of the imagery that they were getting. And, it was a
warfighting advantage, no question about it...," according to a
statement by General Shelton, Commander, AFSPC, to the U.S. House
Armed Services Committee.
The Goodrich payload features a modified version of its SYERS-2
multispectral sensor, the primary imaging sensor on the U-2
reconnaissance plane. A ground segment that formats the
satellite's data products to be compatible with existing
Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination (PED) infrastructure was
also developed and provided by ISR Systems.
The ORS-1 Program is managed by the Space Development and Test
Directorate located at Kirtland Air Force base on behalf of the
Operationally Responsive Space Office at the same location. The ORS
Office is a joint initiative within the DoD responsible for
integrating joint ORS capabilities and for applying ORS resources
to the development, acquisition and demonstration of capabilities
to meet specific responsive space needs as established by global
combatant command joint force commanders and users.
Goodrich Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, is a global
supplier of systems and services to the aerospace and defense
industry. With one of the most strategically diversified
portfolios of products in the industry, Goodrich serves a global
customer base with significant worldwide manufacturing and service
facilities. For more information visit
http://www.goodrich.com.
Goodrich Corporation operates through its divisions and as a
parent company for its subsidiaries, one or more of which may be
referred to as "Goodrich Corporation" in this press
release.
SOURCE Goodrich Corporation; GR - Electronic Systems
