ATMS Approved for Manufacturing and Production
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. - July 20, 2009 - An instrument being
built by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) for the National
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) has
completed a key production milestone, Manufacturing Readiness Review
(MRR). The successful MRR clears the way for the company to start
manufacturing and production of the Advanced Technology Microwave
Sounder (ATMS).
The ATMS instrument is the second flight model and is slated to
fly on the first NPOESS satellite in 2014. The first ATMS was completed
in 2005 and has been integrated on the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP)
satellite, which is scheduled to launch in January 2011.
"The successful MRR is an important milestone for NPOESS,
providing the start of production for one of the key NPOESS operational
weather sensors," said Dave Vandervoet, NPOESS program manager for
Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "The Flight 2 development
has proceeded smoothly and follows in the success of the Flight 1
instrument."
ATMS will provide critical microwave data, including
atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, to support weather
forecasting for the operational NPOESS system. Also developed and built
by Northrop Grumman are the Radio Frequency Front End Modules, which
are a key component enabling ATMS to cover broad microwave frequencies.
The instrument senses microwaves from 23 to 183 Ghz across 22 channels.
"Our experience in creating the ATMS engineering development
unit and delivering the NPP flight unit shows our capability to support
NPOESS," said Steve Opel, ATMS program manager for Northrop Grumman's
Electronic Systems sector. "Completing this important review
demonstrates our readiness to begin production."
Northrop Grumman is building the ATMS Flight 2 instrument under
contract to the NPOESS Integrated Program Office. NPOESS will provide
the nation with critical operational weather and climate monitoring
capability for military and civilian users through 2025
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security
company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products,
and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems,
shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial
customers worldwide.
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