Launch and Range Support
ENSCO has proven its skills for supporting critical range safety systems at the Air Force’s Eastern and Western Ranges, at the Alaskan Aerospace Development Corporation Kodiak Launch Complex and at sites around the world. We have architected, built, tested and participated in range operations and specialize in range modernization efforts.
Telemetry
Our experts have been intimately involved in the entire life-cycle of numerous telemetry modernization projects. When the Alaska Aerospace Development Corporation had a need to upgrade its capability at the Kodiak Launch Complex to support the increased telemetry requirements of complex Missile Defense Agency (MDA) missions, they called upon ENSCO to perform the systems engineering role, including requirements definition, design review, range integration support, and final system verification. We currently provide verification support for the United States Air Force’s telemetry modernization program at the Eastern and Western ranges.
Radar
ENSCO plays an important role in the specification and evaluation of range radars used to track single or multiple objects. Modernizing operational radars and determining the need as technology advances, requires an in-depth knowledge of the operation as well as of the installed equipment. Eliminating equipment that is obsolete or whose capability has been superseded by another component requires experience that in many instances is unique to ENSCO.
Optics
Since optics are critical from both a safety and mission assurance standpoint, ENSCO technologists provide systems engineering and test and evaluation support to ensure range optical instrumentation meets the requirements and expectations of the safety and user communities. In support of the space shuttle return-to-flight program following the Columbia tragedy, ENSCO developed an algorithm for NASA launch controllers that ensures at least three optics sites have a clear line of site to the shuttle during the critical phases of the ascent. This complicated algorithm considers not only geometric line of site to the vehicle, but also present and forecasted cloud obstructions. NASA has stated that this effort is crucial to the successful return of the space shuttle to launch operations, and it remains a launch requirement to this date.
Command Control/Destruct
Critical to terminating the flight of an errant missile or rocket is the command/destruct system; therefore launch ranges demand a 99.95% reliability rate from their command systems. ENSCO understands the crucial task that the command destruct systems support and has provided command control and command destruct expertise to ranges for more than 20 years. Our most recent accomplishment in this arena has been the operational test program for the Kodiak Launch Complex command/destruct system, which is expected to be certified in the near future.
Range Safety
The protection of life and property has always been the key tenet of launch range operations. No systems receive more scrutiny than the range safety systems. ENSCO has conducted independent evaluation of range safety systems for more than 20 years. Our support has included software IV&V, algorithm analysis, independent operational test programs, design analysis, and range safety operator training. We have supported safety development and operations at a multitude of ranges, including the Air Force Eastern and Western ranges, the Kodiak Launch Complex, the Reagan Test Site, the Pacific Missile Range Facility, and the White Sands Missile Range.
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