July 13, 2009
LINTHICUM, Md. – Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been awarded the first phase of a $30 million firm-fixed price U.S. Air Force contract to develop a global space surveillance ground radar system.
The new S-Band Space Fence is part of the U.S. Department of
Defense's effort to track and detect what is commonly referred to as
resident space objects (RSO), consisting of thousands of pieces of
"space debris" as well as commercial and military satellites. Space
Fence will replace the current VHF Air Force Space Surveillance System
built in 1961.
Space Fence will provide continuous, net-centric space
situational awareness by detecting smaller objects in low and medium
earth orbit. The current system requires constant sustainment
intervention to maintain operations and does not address the growing
population of small and micro satellites in orbit.
Rich Davis, director of special projects at Northrop Grumman's
Advanced Concepts and Technology Division, said, "We are addressing a
key mission, which signifies a leap forward in space situation
awareness capability from that available today.
"The new Space Fence system will provide better accuracy and
faster detection while allowing us to increase the number of satellites
and other space objects that can be detected and tracked, thus avoiding
collision and damage to other satellites."
Australia is a candidate for the first Space Fence location.
Two additional sites in other parts of the world are also under
consideration.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a 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.
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Contract win, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), Space systems
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