REDONDO BEACH, Calif., June 21, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), the prime contractor for the Missile Defense Agency's (MDA) missile detecting Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS), announced today the successful completion of thermal vacuum testing of space vehicle number 1. This major milestone is the culmination of months of space environmental testing to ensure successful on-orbit performance. The space vehicle will now go through a series of checkouts as it is prepared for shipment to the launch site later this year.
The second STSS space vehicle is being prepared for thermal vacuum testing, which will be completed later this summer.
The two STSS demonstration satellites will be launched on a single launch vehicle in a tandem configuration from Cape Canaveral. These demonstration STSS satellites will support the MDA's Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) Test Bed by detecting, tracking and discriminating missiles in all phases of flight. The test bed will allow the assessment of the system's capabilities and its ability to operate in concert with other parts of a multi-layered missile defense architecture.
In the deployed operational constellation, STSS will consist of low-earth-orbiting satellites supported by a ground station. The system is designed to provide global, continuous missile detection and tracking capabilities. STSS is the segment that is designed to close the fire-control loop for the entire ballistic missile defense architecture, which will result in a robust, global, multi-layered missile defense system.
As a primary supplier of missile defense technology, Northrop Grumman plays a key role in all phases of our nation's layered missile defense system. Northrop Grumman's domain expertise delivers essential capabilities and technologies that integrate functions across all elements of the ballistic missile defense system. For more information about Northrop Grumman in missile defense, go to www.northropgrumman.com/missiledefense.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a $30 billion global defense and technology company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in information and services, electronics, aerospace and shipbuilding to government and commercial customers worldwide.