Ramona Adams
Millennium Space Systems has has started to integrate a spacecraft bus into a U.S. Air Force testbed sponsored by the Space and Missile Systems Center and managed by NASA.
The Wide Field Of View spacecraft bus platform is projected to be “functionally integrated, tested and checked out by summer 2016,” Millennium said Feb. 15.
The spacecraft is based on Millennium’s AQUILA M8 platform series and works to detect missile launches almost immediately through the integration of the Overhead Persistent Infrared 6-degree staring sensor, which is being produced under a different contract.
“With the hardware, software and interface verification behind us, we can turn our focus to final bus integration and test,” said Millenium President Vince Deno.
“This is a critical milestone for the Air Force’s WFOV program and Space Modernization efforts to enhance the capabilities of the current Space Based Infrared System enterprise,” said Lt. Col. Michelle Villavaso, SMC program manager and contractor team lead.
