----- Original Message ----- From: Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <mailto:Undisclosed-Recipient:;@mindspring.com> Sent: Tuesday, November 07, 2000 2:25 PM Subject: NEW ON SPACE-BASED LASER http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/001106/trw_space_.html =============== + =============== Team SBL-IFX Awarded $97 Million For Next Phase Of Space-Based Laser Program EL SEGUNDO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nov. 6, 2000--Team SBL-IFX, a joint venture comprising TRW , Lockheed Martin, and Boeing has been awarded a $97 million contract modification by the Air Force Space & Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, to conduct the second phase of a technology demonstration program aimed at launching an experimental laser into space in 2012 to shoot down a ballistic missile in 2013. The award for Increment 2 of the Space-Based Laser Integrated Flight Experiment (SBL-IFX) program, which is funded jointly by the Air Force and the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, extends through November 2001. It brings the total value of the joint venture's SBL-IFX development contract to approximately $240 million. The Increment 2 funding will allow Team SBL-IFX to continue the work it began in May 1999 developing and maturing the component technologies required to produce, integrate and test a satellite carrying a high-energy laser, and developing the requirements for that flight demonstration. ``Team SBL-IFX is continuing to make solid progress identifying and refining the requirements, design and manufacturing technologies needed to meet the size, weight, cost and performance requirements of the SBL-IFX program,�� said Barry Waldman, director of Team SBL-IFX. ``We are looking forward to demonstrating the technical feasibility of building and deploying a space-based, boost-phase missile intercept system as part of the nation�s missile defense architecture.�� The Space-Based Laser is the only ballistic-missile, boost-phase intercept system being pursued by the Department of Defense to provide global defense coverage to counter ICBM attacks against the United States or its allies. ``The major event of Increment 2,�� explained Waldman, ``will be the System Definition Review, which is currently planned for fall 2001. At that time, we�ll extend our system level specifications for the IFX down to major program segments, including the space segment, the payload segment and the launch segment. We�ll also use it as an intermediate step toward the IFX Preliminary Design Review, which will occur in a future increment.�� According to Waldman, the second increment will also focus on the design, pilot manufacturing and laboratory testing of key components required for the SBL-IFX laser, beam director and beam control system. Team SBL-IFX comprises TRW Space & Electronics Group, Redondo Beach, Calif.; Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space Operations, Sunnyvale, Calif.; and Boeing Space & Communications Group, Seal Beach, Calif. TRW is leading the integration of the SBL-IFX payload, developing and maturing laser payload technologies and leading the development of the SBL-IFX space test facility. Lockheed Martin is leading the development of the SBL-IFX spacecraft and its integration with the payload, maturing the critical beam director technologies and leading the definition of an operational SBL architecture, while Boeing is developing and maturing SBL-IFX beam control technologies, leading the systems engineering, integration and test of the SBL-IFX and leading the SBL-IFX mission operations segment. Contact: TRW Space & Electronics Group, Redondo Beach Brooks McKinney, 310/814-8177 or Lockheed Martin Missiles & Space Operations, Sunnyvale Jeffery Adams, 408/742-7606 or Boeing Space & Communications Group, Seal Beach Dan Beck, 818/586-4572 www.sbl.losangeles.af.mil Copyright � 2000 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved. =============== + ================= Bruce K. Gagnon Coordinator Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space PO Box 90083 Gainesville, FL. 32607 (352) 337-9274 http://www.space4peace.org [EMAIL PROTECTED]
