Boeing announced Feb. 5 that its industry team building the Air Force’s space based space surveillance system has successfully completed the satellite’s initial testing and has demonstrated end-to-end mission functionality of the system’s ground and space elements. These events showed that the SBSS spacecraft meets all of its requirements and are important milestones en route to the satellite’s scheduled placement into orbit in the spring, the company said. Boeing’s teammate, Ball Aerospace performed these tests using the SBSS ground segment and a space vehicle simulator. Col. James Jordan, commander of the Space Situational Awareness Group at Los Angeles AFB, Calif., said the SBSS team “is making good progress” toward launch.
Airmen basic rarely go on to become four-star generals, but one who did retired last week after a 42 year career that saw him rise from a lowly slick-sleeve to the head of one of the Air Force’s most important major commands.