SAIC Helps Space and Missile Systems Center Make Sure All Systems Are Go

Few Americans have heard of the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), in El Segundo, Calif. But the rockets, satellites and military space systems it deploys have helped shape history and everyday life in America and around the world. SMCs's space-based systems have helped revolutionize military surveillance, communications, navigation, and have transformed modern warfare. And beyond this, some of these systems have become essential tools to everyday life around the world (think about it the next time you use a Global Positioning System mapping or navigation tool).

For almost 10 years, SAIC has been supporting the Independent Readiness Review Team (IRRT) performing critical final review and verification activities across the engineering spectrum to provide maximum assurance that upcoming military launches and satellite missions are ready for their journey into and operation in space meeting critical national needs.

Supporting Mission Success

As important tools for the warfighter and even to civilians worldwide, operational military space systems depend on on-time delivery of new capability and replenishment of in-orbit systems that are reaching the end of their useful life.

"The IRRT team serves an important role supporting SMC's mission assurance imperative," said Tim Webster, SAIC's program manager for IRRT. " We have been extremely adept at catching problems, and believe it was one of the main tenets for the Air Force choosing to continue relying on SAIC and its teammates in the most recent contract re-compete."

Webster noted that "in space, there's no room for mistakes. Satellites that don't reach the right location or function exactly as planned in orbit can be rendered useless. It's not like other missions, where if you can't make it to your destination or if something doesn't operate right, you can come back home and try again. You get one try. If you fail, it costs hundreds of millions of dollars."

SAIC examines the launch systems (the rockets that get the satellites off the ground) and the orbital propulsion systems (the engines that take over in space and steer satellites into their final orbits). It also checks the avionics, mechanical systems and software in the satellites. Once in space, satellites must survive and perform while hurtling along at more than 20,000 miles per hour through solar radiation and huge temperature swings. Manufacturers simulate these extreme conditions in test chambers. SAIC experts examine the test data to see that everything has been built precisely, tested thoroughly, and meets all performance requirements.

Like Buying a (Really Expensive) Car

According to Webster, SAIC experts help the Air Force in the IRRT mission in the same way that an independent, trained mechanic can help a car buyer.

"They know where to look and what kinds of questions to ask, to find potential problems," he said. "Are there any leaks in the hoses of the engine coolant system? Did the seller just patch it without really fixing it? The same thing can be true of a patch in a software program that controls a satellite. We look at the final checkout of the software code and make sure any problems that surfaced during development or testing have been correctly resolved."

A Unique Mission Where Mission Success is Critically Important

SMC's predecessor was created in 1954 to develop the Atlas intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). As the Cold War and the space race with the Soviet Union continued, SMC went on to build many more generations of missiles, including the Minuteman and Peacekeeper. It developed the first U.S. military satellites, launching them on modified versions of its early Thor, Atlas and Titan missiles. NASA used SMC-developed launch vehicles in the civilian space program as well.

As the needs of the nation have evolved and technology advanced, SMC has developed and delivered ever more advanced systems, such as GPS, weather satellites, the Military Satellite Communications (MILSATCOM) system, and infrared missile warning satellites. As the systems have become more advanced and complex, costs have grown and development schedules have lengthened."Satellite space launch and early-orbit operations generate some of the highest risks to continuity and reliability of operational space systems. Teams like our IRRT provide an additional sets of eyes, ears, and brains to minimize the chance that something was missed,"said Webster.

Rob Vasquez, SAIC vice president for SAIC's National Security Space Operation, said, "Our IRRT provides the Air Force with significant depth and breadth of technical expertise in system design, production, evaluation and testing as a final line of assurance for mission success. We take significant pride in being able to support an important engineering responsibility enabling space launch mission success. We look forward to our continued involvement as the Air Force transitions several new space systems to operational service."