Raytheon 'VIIRS' Space-Based Weather Sensor Engineering Development Unit Completes Key Tests -- On Track for Summer 2006 Comple
29 Mars 2006 - 9:27PM
PR Newswire (US)
EL SEGUNDO, Calif., March 29, 2006 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company
successfully completed three key testing milestones on an advanced
sensor engineering development unit (EDU) for the National
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS).
Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems (SAS) is under contract to
design and develop the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite
(VIIRS) EDU and seven flight units for NPOESS prime contractor
Northrop Grumman Corp. The EDU recently completed ambient testing
and vibration testing, the first and second phases of system-level
tests designed to ensure that the sensor will perform as intended
and withstand the rigors of operation in space. The series of
performance and environmental tests on the EDU, which is built
using the same standards and processes that will be used for the
flight units, proves the processes used to design and manufacture
the sensor are sound. In another test, the EDU's passive cooling
system, consisting of the cryo-radiator and other passive cooling
elements, demonstrated better-than-required performance during
thermal vacuum testing. This cooling system supports the sensor's
infrared focal plane arrays, which are responsible for gathering
imaging data. "As a company committed to delivering systems our
customers know will work every time all the time, passing these
critical milestones is a significant step toward ensuring the
operational performance of VIIRS," said SAS President Jon Jones.
"Our goal is to provide the most advanced weather sensor ever
made." VIIRS will collect visible/infrared imagery and radiometric
data on the atmosphere, clouds, earth radiation budget, clear-air
land/water surfaces, sea surface temperature, ocean color, and
low-light visible imagery. The sensor will offer dramatic spatial,
spectral and radiometric performance improvements compared with
current operational capabilities. "These successful tests,
especially the vibration test, demonstrate the risk reduction
effort on VIIRS is working effectively," said Alexis Livanos,
president, Northrop Grumman Space Technology. "Northrop Grumman,
Raytheon and our customer have worked very closely to develop this
advanced capability. The recent successes make a strong statement
about the dedication of the team to the entire NPOESS mission." The
next step is thermal vacuum testing in one of Raytheon's
space-qualified thermal vacuum chambers. The chamber, also used to
verify the performance of Raytheon instruments such as MODIS
(Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) operating on NASA's
Terra and Aqua spacecraft, replicates the extreme heat and freezing
cold cycles spacecraft and sensors experience in space. The EDU is
scheduled for delivery later this year. Delivery of the first VIIRS
flight unit is scheduled for 2008. NPOESS, the nation's
next-generation, low-earth-orbit environmental satellite system, is
composed of satellites, sensors, a ground-control system and a data
processing and dissemination network. NPOESS will provide civilian,
military and scientific communities with regional and global
meteorological data; oceanographic, environmental, climatic, and
space environmental remote sensing information; surface data
collection and search and rescue capabilities. Northrop Grumman
Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is a global defense company headquartered in
Los Angeles, Calif. Northrop Grumman provides technologically
advanced, innovative products, services and solutions in systems
integration, defense electronics, information technology, advanced
aircraft, shipbuilding and space technology. With more than 125,000
employees, and operations in all 50 states and 25 countries,
Northrop Grumman serves U.S. and international military, government
and commercial customers. Raytheon Company (NYSE:RTN), with 2005
sales of $21.9 billion, is an industry leader in defense and
government electronics, space, information technology, technical
services, and business and special mission aircraft. With
headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 80,000 people
worldwide. Raytheon Contact: Sabrina Steele 310.647.9067 Northrop
Grumman Contact: Sally Koris 310.812.4721 DATASOURCE: Raytheon
Company CONTACT: Sabrina Steele of Raytheon, +1-310-647-9067, ; or
Sally Koris of Northrop Grumman, +1-310-812-4721, Web site:
http://www.raytheon.com/
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