The US Air Force has authorised American aerospace manufacturing company Goodrich Corporation to continue the development of the operationally responsive space (ORS) satellite programme.

The company’s ORS Sat-1 satellite system is designed to be used as a base for the multimission modular approach system required for future ORS satellites and will provide colour pictures of regions selected by ground force commanders.

The system will use ground systems to process and distribute the images captured and other related information to the battlefield.

Delivery and launch of the satellite system are scheduled for 2010.