July 2, 2009
REDONDO BEACH, Calif. -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) completed delivery of both Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites on June 25, 2009, when the second satellite arrived at the U.S. Air Force's Cape Canaveral Air Station for launch preparation. The company delivered the first STSS demonstration satellite on May 1, 2009.
"The U.S. Missile Defense Agency is developing the STSS because terrestrial-based sensor systems have inherent limitations to acquire and track missiles around the curvature of the earth," said Gabe Watson, vice president and STSS program manager for the company's Aerospace Systems sector. "STSS will provide persistent global tracking and support discrimination capabilities that significantly increase the effectiveness of the Ballistic Missile Defense System."
Using onboard sensors capable of detecting infrared and visible light, STSS will become part of land-, sea-, air- and space-based sensors for the nation's Ballistic Missile Defense System. Once operational, STSS will demonstrate the key functions of a space-based sensor, passing missile tracking data to missile defense interceptors with the accuracy and timeliness necessary to enable successful intercept missile targets.
Northrop Grumman received an $868 million cost-plus award fee contract in 2002 from the Missile Defense Agency for development of the two demonstration satellites.
The STSS ground station, located at the Missile Defense Integration & Operations Center (MDIOC) at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado Springs, Colo., is already operational. Northrop Grumman developed ground system functions to support STSS spacecraft telemetry, tracking and command, and mission data processing.
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