USU Space Dynamics Laboratory Awarded Contract for Infrared Payloads

The Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory (SDL) has been awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force, Space and Missiles Systems Center (SMC) for the research and development of infrared payloads, test and evaluation, software development and data processing.

The five year contract has a potential value of $48 million and continues through April 2014.

“This contract builds on our 50 year heritage of advancing scientific and defense goals by researching and developing sensor, electronic and software systems,” said Doug Lemon, director of SDL. “SDL provides unparalleled expertise for testing and calibrating infrared payloads that serve as sentinels in space by enabling enhanced missile warning capabilities.”

SDL will test and calibrate the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload sensor (CHIRP). Once CHIRP is integrated onto a commercial satellite, crucial information can be transmitted from 22,300 miles in space to ground stations on Earth for analysis. SDL will continue to provide engineering support for the design and development of the Algorithm Development Laboratory at SMC. The Algorithm Development Laboratory supports technology maturation for the next-generation missile warning system, Third Generation Infrared Surveillance (3GIRS).

The contract award maintains an essential engineering, research and development capability provided by an educational institution in support of 3GIRS. SDL will continue developing and advancing the technology readiness level of full-earth Wide Field-of-View infrared systems, related components and supporting architecture through test and evaluation, software development and data processing.

Celebrating 50 years, Space Dynamics Laboratory advances scientific and defense goals for commercial, civil and government customers. SDL is a leading university affiliated applied research and engineering laboratory for aerospace, climate and defense applications and is a unit of Utah State University Research Foundation. SDL employs more than 400 scientists and engineers who provide sensor, electronic and software systems, calibration and program lifecycle support. For more information, visit the SDL Web site. www.spacedynamics.org