Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (AFSMC) decommissioned the Commercially Hosted Infrared Payload (CHIRP) December 6, according to a service statement.

The CHIRP sensor, designed and built by Leidos [LDOS] (formerly SAIC), was successfully launched Sept. 21, 2011, as a hosted payload on an SES commercial communications satellite built by Orbital Sciences [ORB]. CHRIP was designed for a one-year mission life.

Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (AFSMC) logo. Photo: Air Force.

During the 27 months of operations, CHIRP accomplished all objectives by collecting over 300 terabytes (TB) of Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) data, enabling analysis of more than 70 missile- and rocket-launch events and more than 150 other infrared events. CHIRP mission products stimulated new applications of OPIR data by defense and civil users. CHIP completed its initial demonstration period in July 2012 and its contract was extended three times to conduct additional demonstrations employing wide field-of-view staring technology.

The Air Force said given the successful accomplishment of the project’s objectives and increasing budgetary constraints, it chose not to extend the current contract period. SES said in an Oct. 21 statement AFSMC awarded it a two-year contract extension.