Ball Aerospace - SBSS Media Kit

The SBSS spacecraft shipped to Vandenberg Air Force Base on June 1.

SBSS Mission Overview

3...2...1...LIFTOFF!

The first Space Based Space surveillance (SBSS) space vehicle launched on September 25, 2010 onboard a Minotaur IV from Vandenberg Air Force base, Calif.

Ball Aerospace is teamed with the Boeing Company to deliver an on-orbit dedicated space situational awareness sensor for the US Air Force. Ball Aerospace is responsible for the development and delivery of the entire space segment. The space vehicle utilizes the BCP 2000 bus and a highly agile gimbaled visible sensor that provides routine sky survey and rapid-response collection capabilities.

"This launch has been a long time coming," said SBSS Program Director, Harold Montoya. Ball Aerospace completed and delivered SBSS to the US Air Force last year. A launch vehicle issue delayed the launch until this summer.

"Our team is very proud of the work and hours spent on the SBSS program," added Montoya. "We expect that the years of hard work will become immediately apparent once SBSS enters its on-orbit mission phase."

SBSS is designed to fly in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) and to collect data on objects flying in low Earth and geosynchronous orbits.

Harold Montoya

One-on-one with SBSS Program Manager

Harold Montoya is the Director of Programs and Operations for Defense Systems for Ball’s National Defense business unit, responsible for program execution for unclassified programs in Defense Systems including the Space-Based Space Surveillance (SBSS) Space Vehicle and Operations Programs.