Satellite solutions provider Americom Government Services (AGS) has announced that it has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Air Force to host an experimental sensor on board a commercial spacecraft.

The three year $65 million firm fixed price contract was signed on June 30th with the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) in Los Angeles, CA. AGS will host the experimental sensor on board an SES Americom spacecraft scheduled to launch in 2010 and operate over the United States.

The program is known as the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) Flight Demonstration Program. The primary purpose of the CHIRP experiment is to test a new type of infrared sensor from geo-synchronous altitude. The passive infrared sensor will be integrated onto a commercial satellite so that it can be launched into orbit and the data can then be transmitted to the ground for analysis.

Tip Osterthaler, President and Chief Executive Officer of AGS noted, "We are honored to have been chosen by the U.S. Air Force to participate in this groundbreaking effort. We believe that the commercial satellite industry can provide tremendous value to government customers who are looking for affordable access to space for experiments such as CHIRP."

AGS has subcontracted with Orbital Sciences for the integration of the sensor to the spacecraft. The wide-field-of-view sensor will be developed by Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) as a subcontractor to Orbital Sciences.

In addition to hosting the experiment, AGS, Orbital and SAIC will provide validation and assessment services to determine the utility of the sensor in terms of data, performance validation and interoperability. This experiment is designed to help the SMC reduce technology risk for the Third Generation Infrared Surveillance program earlier than what would be possible with a dedicated satellite.

Americom Government Services, Inc. (AGS), an independent corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of SES AMERICOM, Inc., is exclusively focused on meeting the satellite communication needs of the U.S. Government. Leveraging more than three decades of experience in the government SATCOM market, AGS offers robust and secure satellite-based communications solutions.