Dec. 13, 2006 (UPI) -- EL SEGUNDO, Calif., Raytheon delivered the first payload for a satellite series that can be custom built for the U.S. Air Force for specific missions within less than a week.
The rapid-development space-optical payload produced for the Air Force Research Laboratory is part of ARTEMIS, a $14 million program that is developing an experimental payload for detection of enemy troop positions and equipment in a world trouble spot.
"ARTEMIS paves the way for space assets that can be designed and built rapidly to meet an immediate need by a field commander," Raytheon Vice President Brian Arnold said Tuesday. "The life expectancy of such payloads is months as opposed to years, allowing Raytheon to place lower-cost, best-value technology solutions in the war-fighter's hands in less time."
The ARTEMIS -- it stands for "Advanced Responsive Tactically Effective Military Imaging Spectrometer" -- payloads would be kept at the ready so they can be quickly assembled to the particular mission specs and then moved quickly to the launch site.
The bird would provide imagery of areas not entirely covered by existing reconnaissance satellites or available from spy planes or unmanned aerial vehicles.
"Conceivably, a system could be mounted on a satellite, launched and in orbit some 200 miles above the Earth within three to seven days of a request by a field commander," Arnold said.
