James Webb Space Telescope Core Completes Thermal Testing

James Webb Space Telescope Core Completes Thermal Testing
July 6, 2009

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has completed testing on a model of the "core" section of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to validate the observatory's sophisticated thermal modeling and design. The company is leading an industrial team in the design and development of the Webb Telescope for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center.

"This test represents JWST's first large-scale thermal performance and demonstration test after a decade in development," said Martin Mohan, JWST program manager for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector. "At this early juncture, it appears that our test objectives were achieved. The team gathered a tremendous amount of data that we'll review over the coming months to assess the implications for the current observatory design."

The Webb Telescope's unique design features a sunshield that separates the observatory into a warm sun-facing side, and a cold side facing away from the sun. The warm side will be subjected to nearly 100,000 thermal Watts of heat from the sun, while the cold, anti-sun side, where the optical telescope element and science instrument module are located, will be cooled passively to as low as -414 degrees Fahrenheit (25 K, or slightly above absolute zero). These elements come together at the observatory's central, or core, region.

The core model built by Northrop Grumman is a thermal facsimile of the Webb Telescope's central region and stands about two stories tall, or 17.5 feet, and 17 feet wide. It consists of the top portion of the spacecraft bus, deployable tower, a truncated but fully tensioned five-layer sunshield, optical telescope element backplane support frame, integrated science instrument module (ISIM) compartment, cable trays, thermal management systems, and ISIM electronics compartment.

Testing was conducted in Northrop Grumman's largest thermal vacuum chamber at the company's space systems manufacturing facilities over nearly six weeks. To simulate the extreme cold JWST will experience in space, Northrop Grumman upgraded the chamber with a gaseous helium-refrigerated shroud and precisely monitored the test with 550 individual temperature sensors. The chamber provided a background operating temperature as low as -435 degrees F (13K).

The telescope operates at temperatures approaching absolute zero to best see the near- and mid-infrared light coming from the very first stars and galaxies.

"I can't overstate how much of a milestone this test represents and the remarkable achievement it is just getting this large test article to flight-like temperatures and gathering the needed data," said Keith Parrish, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, JWST Deputy Observatory/Sunshield manager. "The fact that it went as smoothly and with as little fanfare speaks volumes to the planning, build quality, facility operations, and foresight of the entire team. This test expands the joint NGAS/NASA institutional knowledge for large cryogenic testing and will contribute to the even more complex flight article testing later in the program."

The Webb Telescope is the next-generation premier space observatory, exploring deep space phenomena such as distant galaxies to nearby planets and stars. It will give scientists clues about the formation of the universe and the evolution of our own solar system, from the first light after the Big Bang to the formation of star systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth.

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Northrop Grumman Plays Major Role in NASA’s Development of Alternate Astronaut Escape System

Northrop Grumman Plays Major Role in NASA's Development of Alternate Astronaut Escape System
July 8, 2009

Launch Abort System Successfully Tested At NASA Facility

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. - July 8, 2009 - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) played a major role in NASA's development of an alternate astronaut escape system that was successfully demonstrated today in a simulated launch abort test.

The unpiloted test was part of an assessment by the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) of a potential alternate launch abort system concept that could be used for future piloted spacecraft. The test occurred at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.

NASA's Constellation Program is designing the Orion crew exploration vehicle, Ares launch vehicles and Altair Lunar Lander that will return humans to the moon to live and work. The Orion launch abort system offers a proven method of pulling the crew out of danger in the event of an emergency on the launch pad or during the climb to Earth orbit.

The alternate system is called the Max Launch Abort System (MLAS), which could deliver aerodynamic performance benefits, weight savings and be relatively simple in some spacecraft applications. The demonstration vehicle consists of a full-scale composite fairing, a full-scale crew module simulator and four solid rocket abort motors mounted in the boost skirt with motor mass simulators in the forward fairing.

"Our contribution to the MLAS demonstration is one example of a number of Northrop Grumman initiatives designed to help NASA mitigate risks related to key aspects of its Constellation Program," said Carl Meade, director of Constellation Systems for Northrop Grumman's Aerospace Systems sector.

Northrop Grumman developed and produced the composite fairing, fins, drag plates, and motor cage structure. Company personnel based in Wallops Island, Va., performed structures and mechanism assembly and supported the vehicle integration and flight test. Northrop Grumman's subcontractor, Ensign Bickford Aerospace and Defense, Simsbury, Conn., provided pyrotechnic separation system mechanisms.

"We contributed our expertise in structures and mechanisms including advanced composites design, analysis and manufacturing from across the company," said Tod Palm, Northrop Grumman's MLAS program manager. "It was especially gratifying to work alongside NASA in a fast-paced, seamless team environment. We look forward to future opportunities to work with the NASA team to address similarly challenging issues."

The prototype in the test was used to evaluate the means to safely propel a spacecraft and its crew from an errant rocket. It represents a departure from the tower launch abort system used during Apollo launches and retained for the NASA Constellation Program.

The MLAS test was primarily a demonstration of unpowered flight along a stable trajectory, vehicle reorientation and stabilization, followed by crew module simulator separation from the MLAS fairing, stabilization and parachute recovery of the crew module simulator.

Northrop Grumman is working with NASA on other elements of the Constellation Program, including the Altair Lunar Lander. The company brings extensive experience with lunar landers, solar system probes and space observatories, along with its expertise in designing and producing large complex systems from spacecraft to ships to high performance aircraft.

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Northrop Grumman Advanced Composite Mate Joint Passes Stringent Tests for NASA’s Composite Crew Module Demonstration Program

Northrop Grumman Advanced Composite Mate Joint Passes Stringent Tests for NASA's Composite Crew Module Demonstration Program
December 17, 2009

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. – An innovative method for joining composite structures implemented by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has passed a series of intensive structural tests, paving the way for the use of composites in future spacecraft.

"This is a major step forward for the use of composites in future missions," said Gene Fraser, vice president of Advanced Programs and Technology for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "Our engineering and technology development efforts on this composite structure will enable future manned habitats for the Moon and beyond."

In collaboration with the NASA Engineering and Safety Center (NESC) Composite Crew Module team, Northrop Grumman developed a unique joint design that was used to mate two segments of NASA's Composite Crew Module (CMM) demonstrator. The joint design test results proved that the mating process retains compartment pressure and withstands external loads at twice the level normally experienced in flight. In addition, the new process provides mass and cost savings due to the elimination of mate joint fasteners, more efficient subsystems installation and no requirement for an autoclave during mate. The CCM is a high fidelity technology demonstration article that represents the inner pressurized shell for the Orion crew module.

"The splice region performed exactly as our analysis predicted," said Mike Kirsch, NASA CCM program manager. "We tracked the strain across the joint and verified that the non-autoclave cured composite was fully capable of handling the pressure and vehicle loads in the crew cabin."

Conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., the Northrop Grumman team also installed an advanced fiberoptic strain-sensing system on the CCM, which monitored more than 3,500 channels of data in real time during the test to monitor the splice joint's performance. Additional tests measured the CCM's performance during ultimate loads for launch, on-orbit, and abort scenarios. NASA is now proceeding with post-impact load conditions to verify the robust residual strength characteristics of the CCM habitat structure. The test program will be complete next spring.

In recognition of the company's participation in the CCM splice fabrication effort, NESC, which is leading development of the CCM, presented Northrop Grumman's engineer Dawson Vincent with a Technical Excellence Award in October.

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Lockheed Martin Team Passes Critical Design Review for Solar Ultraviolet Imager for GOES-R Satellite Series

Lockheed Martin Team Passes Critical Design Review for Solar Ultraviolet Imager for GOES-R Satellite Series
December 17, 2009 11:31:00 AM

PALO ALTO, Calif., -- The Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) team, awarded a contract by NASA in 2007 to design and build the agency's Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)-R Series, has met the requirements of a Critical Design Review. The review was conducted last week at the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Palo Alto by a group of multi-disciplinary experts from NASA and NOAA, as well as a number of independent reviewers. The SUVI instrument will be built at the ATC under the management of the company's Sensing & Exploration Systems organization.

The Lockheed Martin SUVI instrument meets and exceeds all performance requirements. The design provides over six times more pixels (picture elements) than required, and imaging cadence capability at more than three times the original specification. The SUVI program will now proceed to fabrication of the flight units. The next major review will be the Pre-Environmental Review in Nov. 2011. The team is on track for instrument delivery in Oct. 2012, with six months of schedule margin to meet that date. The first GOES-R launch is scheduled for 2015.


"As a team we are honored to have surpassed this important milestone in the design and construction of SUVI," said Mons Morrison, Lockheed Martin SUVI program manager. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with NASA and NOAA to produce the best possible suite of instruments that will make these crucial measurements, and to working side by side with our Lockheed Martin colleagues who will design and build the GOES-R spacecraft."

The SUVI on the GOES-R satellites is a diverse set of operational instruments that will provide the required solar observational capabilities that enable NOAA to monitor solar activity and to issue accurate real-time alerts when space weather may possibly affect the performance and reliability of space-borne and ground-based technological systems and human endeavors. Space weather can disrupt satellite operations, communications, navigation, and the distribution of electricity through power grids. These can lead to economic losses and can potentially endanger human life.

In recognition of the importance of the data SUVI will gather and the challenges associated with designing and building the instruments, Lockheed Martin assembled a highly capable team with a substantial record of success in providing similar instruments for other missions. The Lockheed Martin Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory (LMSAL) within the ATC, well known for solar instrument development and solar physics research, leads the GOES-R SUVI effort. LMSAL recently completed work on the GOES-O Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) and oversaw its successful calibration on-orbit following a June 2009 launch.

Along with the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) polar orbiting weather satellites currently built by Lockheed Martin, GOES is a critical part of the U.S. satellite constellation for weather observations. Operational since 1975, the GOES program is a key element in National Weather Service (NWS) operations, providing a continuous stream of environmental information (weather imagery and sounding data) used to support weather forecasting, severe-storm tracking, and meteorological research. Along with weather forecasting, the GOES program also provides data to support space weather forecasting, safety, protection of property, and ultimately, economic health and development. The future GOES-R mission is expected to improve the quality and timeliness of forecasts, expanding the safety and economic security of the public.

The GOES Program is managed by NOAA, which establishes requirements, provides funding and distributes environmental data for the United States. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., manages the SUVI instrument acquisition as a part of its support to NOAA's development of the GOES-R series of satellites.

The ATC is the research and development organization of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC). LMSSC, a major operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs and develops, tests, manufactures and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security and military, civil government and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; ballistic missiles; missile defense systems; and nanotechnology research and development.

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Northrop Grumman Names Paul Russell to Lead Space Navigation Business Area

Northrop Grumman Names Paul Russell to Lead Space Navigation Business Area
March 11, 2010

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. –– Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has appointed Paul K. Russell vice president of the newly-created Space business area within the company's Navigation Systems Division, effective immediately.

In his new position, Russell will be responsible for overall leadership of the division's inertial measurement unit programs and products for space applications, including Northrop Grumman's industry-leading Scalable Space Inertial Reference Unit (Scalable SIRU(TM)).

Russell joined Northrop Grumman in 2005 as director of the company's Azusa, Calif., site where he was responsible for oversight of all functional activities and facilities. He has an extensive executive management background in systems engineering, space technology and product management. Prior to joining Northrop Grumman, Russell was director of systems engineering for Space Systems/Loral, with responsibility for leading the systems engineering development of commercial satellite systems and supporting a variety of fixed and direct broadcast applications. Most recently, he served as vice president of engineering and manufacturing for the western region of Northrop Grumman's Electronic Systems sector.

Russell earned a bachelor's degree in physics from Willamette University and a master's degree in electrical engineering from Santa Clara University. He is a certified Six Sigma Black Belt.

Russell currently serves on the Santa Clara University Industrial Advisory Board.

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Appointments, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), Space systems

GeoEye Selects Lockheed Martin to Build Next-Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System

GeoEye Selects Lockheed Martin to Build Next-Generation Commercial Remote Sensing Satellite System
March 11, 2010 1:59:00 PM

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, a core business area of the Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE: LMT), announced today that it has been selected by GeoEye, Inc. (Nasdaq: GEOY) to build the company's next-generation, high-resolution Earth imaging satellite system known as GeoEye-2. Financial terms are not being disclosed at this time.

Lockheed Martin has begun start-up activities and procurement of long-lead components to support the earliest possible launch date for GeoEye-2. This effort will lead to a contract award for the design, engineering and manufacturing of the satellite and the associated command and control system.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, a world leader in the most advanced space-based systems for government and commercial customers, designed and built the world's first commercial, high-resolution, Earth-imaging satellite, IKONOS, which has been providing 0.82-meter ground resolution imagery to GeoEye's customers around the globe for more than a decade.

These map-accurate images are used for applications in national security, environmental monitoring, state and local government, disaster assessment and relief, land management and for many other geospatial applications.

"GeoEye and Lockheed Martin have had a long and productive partnership since building and launching the first commercial remote sensing satellite," said Joanne Maguire, executive vice president, Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "Our GeoEye-2 solution will leverage our strong government and commercial satellite system expertise and focus on operational excellence and mission success to provide GeoEye with another world-class, high-performance spacecraft for its customers."

Matthew O'Connell, GeoEye's chief executive officer and president, said, "We look forward to working with Lockheed Martin again and eagerly anticipate the construction and successful launch of another cutting-edge satellite which will provide proven reliability and greatly enhanced imaging capabilities for our customers."

Lockheed Martin's GeoEye-2 solution will build on the company's deep heritage and ability to execute within cost and schedule in this mission area and offer increased agility, resolution and flexibility over IKONOS and GeoEye-1. This will enable the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) to provide critical geospatial situational awareness and global security information to intelligence analysts, war fighters and decision makers. Commercial users will also benefit from access to GeoEye-2's map-accurate color imagery. The spacecraft will feature a high-resolution ITT camera that has been in development for more than two years.

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Great Britain Buys More SATCOMM Leading To Satellite Investment

Paradigm Secure Communications received a contract extension from the British Ministry of Defense to provide satellite telecommunications services for the Army, RAF and Navy. The contract is now extended past 2020 and has a value of over $6 billion. This further work is allowing Paradigm to invest in a fourth Skynet 5 satellite.

This contract was originally awarded in 2003 and the was structured as a Defense Finance Initiative. This meant that the contractors provided the hardware and Paradigm and Astrium built and launched three Skynet satellites. The U.K. and the U.S. have found that the operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have increased their requirements for satellite communications and Paradigm had already planned for a fourth satellite. The U.S. is planning on awarding a multi-billion dollar contract with commercial providers for their military and other government agency use.

Student Teams Ready to Battle Lunar Terrain at NASA’s 17th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race — Press Release

Student Teams Ready to Battle Lunar Terrain at NASA’s 17th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race

WASHINGTON, March 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — More than 100 student teams from around the globe will drive their specially crafted lunar rovers through a challenging course of rugged, moon-like terrain at NASA’s 17th annual Great Moonbuggy Race in Huntsville, Ala., April 9-10.

Some 1,088 high school, college and university students from 20 states and Puerto Rico, Canada, Germany, Bangladesh, Serbia, India and Romania are expected to participate in the race at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.

Students begin to prepare for the event each year during the fall semester. They must design, build and test a sturdy, collapsible, lightweight vehicle that addresses engineering problems similar to those overcome by the original Apollo-era lunar rover development team at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville in the late 1960s.

The buggies are based on the design of those classic rovers, which American astronauts drove across the moon’s surface during the Apollo 15, 16 and 17 missions in the early 1970s. Teams of students build their vehicles using trail bike tires, aluminum or composite-metal struts and parts. The best teams drive trains, gears, suspension, steering and braking systems they find or construct.

Top prizes are awarded to the three teams in both the high school and college/university divisions that post the fastest race times, which include assembly and penalty times. A variety of other prizes are given by race corporate sponsors. These include “rookie of the year” and the “featherweight” award, presented to the team with the lightest, fastest buggy.

NASA’s Great Moonbuggy Race is one of many educational projects and initiatives the agency conducts each year to attract and engage America’s next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers. They will carry on the nation’s mission of exploration to unchartered destinations in our solar system.

“NASA is committed to inspiring young people in science, technology, engineering and math, and the Great Moonbuggy Race is an excellent way for us to reach out to young people and get them excited and involved in technical opportunities available to them,” said Mike Selby, an avionics technical assistant in the Marshall Center’s Engineering Directorate. While completing his engineering degree at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, Selby was a member of the school’s moonbuggy teams, helping them to a second-place finish in 1995 and to first place in 1996. Since 2001, he has served each year as a volunteer scorekeeper.

The race is hosted by the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and is sponsored by Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, and Jacobs Engineering ESTS Group, all of Huntsville.

For a list of this year’s competitors, visit:

http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov/email.html

For more information about the competition, visit:

http://moonbuggy.msfc.nasa.gov/

For information about other NASA education programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/education

Source: NASA

CONTACT: Sonja Alexander of NASA Headquarters, Washington,
+1-202-358-1761, sonja.r.alexander@nasa.gov, or Angela Storey of NASA Marshall
Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala., +1-256-544-0034,
angela.d.storey@nasa.gov

James Webb Space Telescope’s First Primary Mirror Segment Meets Full Flight Specifications, Sets Program Landmark

James Webb Space Telescope's First Primary Mirror Segment Meets Full Flight Specifications, Sets Program Landmark
March 2, 2010

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. –– The James Webb Space Telescope reached a mission-readiness landmark today when its first primary mirror segment was cryo-polished to its required prescription as measured at operational cryogenic temperatures. This achievement sets the stage for a successful polishing process for the remaining 18 flight mirror segments. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) is leading Webb's design and development effort for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

"Many predicted it would take us multiple iterations to successfully polish these mirror segments to achieve the correct optical prescription at the telescope's operating temperatures, but we did it on our first try," said Scott Willoughby, Webb Telescope Program Manager for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "All our budgets and schedules are based on this and it's a confirmation of the basic plan we proposed ten years ago."

"The completion of cryogenic polishing of the engineering development unit primary mirror segment is a hugely significant milestone for the Webb telescope project that demonstrates that our primary mirror segments can be completed on schedule while meeting the performance necessary for science," said Lee Feinberg, NASA Webb Optical Telescope Element Manager at the Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

Cryogenic polishing, or cryo-null figuring, ensures that when the mirror reaches its extremely cold operating temperature, its shape will conform to the exact optical prescription required to collect accurate infrared images of distant stars and galaxies. The engineering development unit mirror, which will be used as a flight spare, was cryotested in the X-Ray and Cryogenic Facility (XRCF) at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Ala. The mirror polishing was performed at Tinsley Laboratories, Inc. in Richmond, Calif. Late last year, the mirror segment met flight requirements at ambient temperatures.

"For validation purposes, we're planning four sets of completely different cross checks and verification tests to authenticate the outcome of the mirror cryotests," said Scott Texter, Northrop Grumman Webb Optical Telescope Element Manager. "If any discrepancies surface, we can then investigate and re-verify."

NASA Marshall and principal optical contractor Ball Aerospace will conduct separate verification tests using different computer generated holographic null tools. NASA Goddard will use its own testing equipment and measurement methods in its clean room; testing at Johnson Space Flight Center will use a reflective null tool manufactured by optical integration and test partner ITT; and polishing partner Tinsley Labs will make measurements using their own independent method of calibrating their computer generated holographic null tools.

The James Webb Space Telescope is the next-generation premier space observatory, exploring deep space phenomena from distant galaxies to nearby planets and stars. The Webb Telescope will give scientists clues about the formation of the universe and the evolution of our own solar system, from the first light after the Big Bang to the formation of star systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth. Expected to launch in 2014, the telescope is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

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Lockheed Martin Solar X-ray Imager to be Launched on NOAA GOES-P Spacecraft

Lockheed Martin Solar X-ray Imager to be Launched on NOAA GOES-P Spacecraft
March 1, 2010 11:10:00 AM

PALO ALTO, Calif., -- The Solar X-ray Imager (SXI) instrument, designed and built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) at its Space Systems Advanced Technology Center (ATC) is ready for flight.


Built for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) in Greenbelt, Md., SXI is awaiting launch - scheduled for March 2 - on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES-P spacecraft from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. SXI is one of a suite of instruments that resides on the current generation of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES).


"It is enormously satisfying to have our third SXI instrument ready for launch and we look forward to seeing it operating on-orbit," said George Koerner, SXI program manager at the ATC. "While the other GOES instruments provide near-constant viewing of the Earth, SXI is designed to view the Sun and provide vital information regarding solar activity."


The SXI will be used to aid NOAA and U.S. Air Force personnel in issuing forecasts and alerts of space weather conditions, and in developing a better understanding of Sun-related phenomena that affect the Earth's environment. Turbulent space weather can affect radio communication on Earth, induce currents in electric power grids and long distance pipelines, cause navigational errors in magnetic guidance systems, upset satellite circuitry and expose astronauts to increased radiation.


SXI will observe solar flares, coronal mass ejections, coronal holes and active regions in the X-ray region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These features are the dominant sources of disturbances in space weather that lead to, for example, geomagnetic storms. SXI will also examine flare properties, newly emerging active regions, and X-ray bright points on the Sun. SXI will provide continuous, near real-time observation of the Sun's corona, acquiring a full-disk image every minute. The images cover a 0.7 degree field of view with 0.0014 degree pixels.


The solar disk, as viewed from Earth, is approximately 0.5 degrees in diameter. By recording solar images every minute, NOAA observers will be able to detect and locate the occurrence of solar flares. This is the name given to the explosive releases of vast amounts of magnetic energy in the solar atmosphere. Since scientists are not yet able to predict the occurrence, magnitude or location of solar flares, it is necessary to continually observe the Sun to know when they are happening.


When a flare erupts, it throws out large clouds of ionized, or electrically charged, gas. A small fraction of the cloud is very energetic and can reach the Earth within a few minutes to hours of the flare being observed. These energetic particles pose a hazard to both astronauts and spacecraft.


Coronal mass ejections, which are often associated with flares, take several days to reach the Earth. Fast, powerful ejections give rise to geomagnetic storms, which can disrupt radio transmissions and induce large currents in power transmission lines and oil pipelines. They have resulted in large-scale failures of the North American power grid and greatly increased pipeline erosion. SXI also will monitor coronal holes -- persistent sources of high-speed solar wind. As the Sun rotates every 27 days, these sources spray across the Earth like a lawn sprinkler and cause recurring geomagnetic storms.


NOAA's environmental satellite system is composed of two types of satellites: Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) for national, regional, short-range warning and "now-casting"; and Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) for global, long-term forecasting and environmental monitoring. Lockheed Martin and its heritage companies built all of the POES satellites going back to the very first weather satellite launch on April 1, 1960, and is currently developing the next generation GOES-R satellite system, with a first launch set for 2015. Both GOES and POES are necessary for providing a complete global weather monitoring system. Both also carry search and rescue instruments to relay signals from people in distress.


The ATC has a 47-year-long heritage of spaceborne solar instruments including the Soft X-ray Telescope on the Japanese Yohkoh satellite, the Michelson Doppler Imager on the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, the solar telescope on NASA's Transition Region and Coronal Explorer, the Solar X-ray Imager on the GOES-N and O environmental satellites, the Focal Plane Package on Hinode and an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager on each of the two spacecraft in NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory. The laboratory also conducts basic research into understanding and predicting space weather and the behavior of the Sun including its impacts on Earth and climate.


The ATC is the research and development organization of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC). LMSSC, a major operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs and develops, tests, manufactures and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security and military, civil government and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; ballistic missiles; missile defense systems; and nanotechnology research and development.

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Raytheon Wins $886 Million Contract to Develop Next-Generation GPS Control Segment

Raytheon Wins $886 Million Contract to Develop Next-Generation GPS Control Segment
February 26, 2010

Program to improve security, accuracy and reliability of GPS satellites

AURORA, Colo., -- The U.S. Air Force has selected Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) for an initial contract of $886 million to develop a new element of the Global Positioning System to improve the accuracy of information from GPS satellites.

The contract represents the first two development blocks of the advanced control segment (OCX), which will have a significant impact on GPS capabilities. The OCX system will include anti-jam capabilities and improved security, accuracy and reliability and will be based on a modern service-oriented architecture to integrate government and industry open-system standards.

"We are excited to partner with the Air Force to provide the best-value GPS control system for the future," said Lynn Dugle, president of Raytheon's Intelligence and Information Systems business. "Raytheon's broad experience in delivering satellite-to-ground command and control systems will ensure that our nation's military and civil GPS users worldwide are provided new capabilities."

The OCX will dramatically affect GPS command, control and mission capabilities and make it easier for the operations team to run the current GPS block II and all future GPS satellites.

"Raytheon is proud to deliver innovative technologies to help the Air Force meet its mission of protecting GPS operational services," said Bob Canty, GPS OCX vice president and program manager for Raytheon. "The advanced control segment is a critical program for our nation's combat forces, coalition partners, as well as domestic and international civil users. By selecting Raytheon, the Air Force recognizes our experience and commitment to take GPS to the next level."

The GPS, a satellite-based radio navigation system for the military and the public, comprises three major segments: the user segment, the space segment, and the control segment, which includes a master control station and ground antennas.

"The OCX concept was created to separate the control and space segments," Canty said. "Technologies were evolving so rapidly and were so critical to execution that specialized skills were needed. The GPS wing saw the same need for specialized expertise on GPS OCX."

Raytheon brings more than four decades of experience in command and control systems for satellites to the OCX program. Teammates include The Boeing Company, ITT, Braxton Technologies, Infinity Systems Engineering and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The contract was awarded by the Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center at Los Angeles Air Force Base.

Note to Editors:

Raytheon will hold a GPS OCX press conference webcast at 11 a.m. EST Feb. 26. For more information about Raytheon's GPS OCX program, visit www.raytheon.com/gpsocx.

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Contract $500m+, Contract Win, Raytheon (NYSE:RTN), Space Systems

Military Communications Satellite Built by Lockheed Martin Achieves 10 Years in Service

Military Communications Satellite Built by Lockheed Martin Achieves 10 Years in Service
February 26, 2010 1:23:00 PM

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- The U.S. Air Force's Defense Satellite Communications System (DSCS) B8 satellite, built by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), has surpassed its 10-year design life of on-orbit service in providing secure and reliable communications capabilities for the warfighter.


Launched from Cape Canaveral on Jan. 20, 2000, the B8 satellite is one of 14 DSCS III spacecraft designed and built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems for the MILSATCOM Systems Wing at the Air Force's Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif.


The satellite is also the first of four DSCS III satellites to feature Service Life Enhancement Program (SLEP) upgrades that enabled a 200-percent increase in communication capacity over original DSCS III spacecraft with its 50-watt Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers.


"The high performance and longevity of the DSCS III constellation is direct testimony to a joint U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin team dedicated to providing the warfighter with secure and reliable satellite communications," said Kevin Bilger, Lockheed Martin's vice president and general manager of Global Communications Systems. "The DSCS III constellation has provided the Department of Defense with its core communications capability for over two decades and will continue to make a significant contribution to our national security well into the future."


The system provides uninterrupted secure voice and high-data rate communications to Department of Defense users; essential tools in monitoring events and deploying and sustaining forces anywhere in the world. In 2009, the overall DSCS III constellation surpassed 200 years of on-orbit operations, the longest total operational experience of any U.S. military communications satellite constellation.


Lockheed Martin is also progressing on the Department of Defense's highly secure communications satellite system, the Advanced Extremely High Frequency (AEHF) program. As the successor to Milstar, AEHF will increase data rates by a factor of five, permitting transmission of more tactical military communications, such as real-time video, battlefield maps and targeting data. The first AEHF spacecraft has completed final testing and is planned for delivery to the Air Force in second quarter 2010.

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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Space Systems, USAF (US Air Force)

Northrop Grumman to Unveil Concept Design for NASA’s Next Generation X-ray Telescope at High Energy Astrophysics Conference

Northrop Grumman to Unveil Concept Design for NASA’s Next Generation X-ray Telescope at High Energy Astrophysics Conference
February 25, 2010

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. –- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will showcase its innovative hardware design for NASA’s International X-Ray Observatory (IXO) during the premier conference of the world’s leading high energy astrophysicists. IXO is the next generation X-ray telescope slated for development by the space agency.

The design's public debut will be at the conference of the American Astronomical Society’s High Energy Astrophysics Division at the Hilton Waikoloa Village on Hawaii’s big island March 1-4, 2010.

“To create this concept design, our Northrop Grumman team draws on our considerable experience building and operating Chandra and other NASA premier astrophysics observatories, such as the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and the James Webb Space Telescope,” said Bob Burke, vice
president of Civil and Military Systems for Northrop Grumman Aerospace
Systems. “Our perfect record pioneering the technology of deployable
space structures is also a significant capability that can assure the
success of the IXO mission.”

The IXO design features an optical bench concept that has the potential to increase the telescope’s focal length while staying within current mass and stability requirements. An instrument and system layout increases the telescope’s field of view. The deployable optical bench concept uses only technologically mature components and flight-proven elements that reduce cost and risk. The overall design is based on existing elements, can be fully tested on the ground and does not require any new technology.

The company's hardware display will feature a 1/10th-scale model of the deployment structure, including a prototype of a telescoping boom, similar to that used for the Webb telescope’s sunshield deployment. The Webb deployment design has successfully completed a review certifying that it meets mission requirements.

Three of the company's scientists will present papers at the conference: Dr. Rolf Danner will speak on "Enhancing the International X-ray Observatory,” Dr. Suzi Casement will present "A Tower Concept for the Off-Plane X-ray Grating Spectrometer for the International X-ray Observatory,” and Dr. Charles Lillie will deliver "Design Concepts for
the Generation-X Mission."

A successor to the Chandra X-ray Observatory, the International
X-ray Observatory (IXO) features a collecting area 50 times larger than
Chandra's. IXO will let scientists see objects that are farther away
and observe in detail what happens close to the event horizon of black
holes, where gas and dust are heated to extreme temperatures under the
crushing forces of gravity.

IXO, a joint effort of NASA, the European Space Agency and
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, combines a large X-ray mirror with
powerful new instrumentation that will explore the high energy
Universe. IXO could be launched as early as 2021.


# # #

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NASA (National Aeronautics & Space Administration), Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), Space systems

Stardust-NExT Spacecraft Fires Engines to Delay Arrival at Comet

Stardust-NExT Spacecraft Fires Engines to Delay Arrival at Comet
February 18, 2010 1:10:00 PM

Lockheed Martin-Built Spacecraft One Year Away From Encounter with Tempel 1

DENVER, -- NASA's Stardust-NExT (New Exploration of Tempel) spacecraft fired its engines for 22 minutes 53 seconds on Feb. 17 to purposely delay its arrival at comet Tempel 1 by 8 hours 21 minutes. In one year, the Lockheed Martin- (NYSE: LMT) built spacecraft will still fly by the comet on Feb. 14, 2011, Valentines' Day, but the encounter time will now be 8:42 p.m. PT.

The low-cost Discovery Program Mission of Opportunity will expand the investigation of comet Tempel 1 initiated by NASA's Deep Impact spacecraft. The mission uses the still-healthy Stardust spacecraft to perform a flyby of comet Tempel 1 and obtain high-resolution images of the comet and hopefully the crater made by Deep Impact in July 2005. The delayed arrival will provide project scientists the best chance of seeing both previously imaged areas and news areas of Tempel 1. By taking photos of previously imaged areas of the comet, scientists can analyze terrain changes caused by the comet's close approach to the Sun on a successive orbit five and one-half years later.

The engine burn was performed autonomously at 2:00 p.m. PST while the spacecraft was out of contact from Earth. Spacecraft engineers at Lockheed Martin sent the trajectory correction maneuver commands to the spacecraft on Monday, Feb. 15. The maneuver reduced the spacecraft's velocity, relative to the sun, by 54 mph (24 meters per second). The spacecraft's velocity relative to the sun is 47,500 mph (21 km per second).

The robust spacecraft recently completed it 4,000th day of flight and had traveled approximately 3.4 billion miles (5.4 million kilometers) since its launch 11 years ago.

Throughout its two-mission life, Stardust has had many January and February milestones.

Feb. 7, 1999 launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station

Jan. 15, 2001 Earth gravity assist to meet up with comet Wild 2

Jan. 2, 2004 encounter with comet Wild 2

Jan. 15, 2006 sample return capsule returned safely back to Earth

Jan. 14, 2009 Earth gravity assist to meet up with comet Tempel 1

Feb. 14, 2011 future encounter with comet Tempel 1

Dr. Joseph Veverka at Cornell University is the principal investigator of the Stardust-NExT mission. JPL is managing Stardust-NExT for the NASA Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company designed and built the Stardust spacecraft and performs flight operations for the mission.

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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Space systems

Second Missile Warning Satellite Achieves Key Testing Milestone at Lockheed Martin

Second Missile Warning Satellite Achieves Key Testing Milestone at Lockheed Martin
February 16, 2010

SUNNYVALE, Calif., -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has achieved a key integrated test milestone on the second Space-Based Infrared System (SBIRS) geosynchronous orbit (GEO-2) spacecraft at its facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif.

SBIRS is designed to provide early warning of missile launches, and simultaneously support other missions including missile defense, technical intelligence and battlespace characterization.

The GEO-2 satellite, designed to provide new missile detection and surveillance capabilities for the nation, has completed its first phase of Baseline Integrated System Test (BIST-1), an extensive functional test that characterizes the overall performance of the satellite and establishes a performance baseline for the remainder of the test program.

With the completion of BIST-1, the team will proceed with final factory work on the satellite and prepare for the final, comprehensive BIST milestone prior to entering environmental testing. The spacecraft is planned for launch aboard an Atlas V launch vehicle in 2012.

"Concluding the first phase of BIST is another example of the entire government/industry team's commitment to operational excellence and successful execution of this critical national security program," said Dave Sheridan, Lockheed Martin's SBIRS GEO program manager. "We look forward to our continued positive momentum on SBIRS and achieving mission success for our customer."

The first SBIRS spacecraft (GEO-1) completed thermal vacuum testing and is now preparing for final integration and test activities that will culminate with final checkout and delivery to the Air Force later this year.

The SBIRS team is led by the Space Based Infrared Systems Wing at the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the SBIRS prime contractor, with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems, Azusa, Calif., as the payload integrator. Air Force Space Command operates the SBIRS system.

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Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD), Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Space Systems

ATK and NASA to Perform Final Ground Test for the Space Shuttle Program — Press Release

ATK and NASA to Perform Final Ground Test for the Space Shuttle Program

Test will Ensure Safety for Four Remaining Shuttle Flights

PROMONTORY, Utah, Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Alliant Techsystems (NYSE:ATK) and NASA will conduct the last ground test for the Space Shuttle program on February 25, marking the closure of a program that has spanned more than three decades and ushering in the era of the next generation of space exploration.

What: Horizontal ground test firing of a four-segment solid
rocket motor
When: Thursday, February 25, 2010
Time: 11:55 a.m. MST
Where: ATK Space Systems facility in Promontory, Utah

Test Objectives/Background:
— A total of 43 design objectives will be measured through 258
instrument channels
— This final test will be the 52nd test conducted for NASA’s Space
Shuttle Program
— The ground test will be conducted to ensure the safe fly-out of the
remaining four missions
— The first test was conducted on July 18, 1977
— The cases have previously flown on the space shuttle, collectively
launching 38 missions

Media Contacts:
Trina Patterson George Torres
Cell: 801-699-0943 Cell: 801-699-2637
E-mail: trina.patterson@atk.com E-mail: george.torres@atk.com

New Satellite Internet Service Offered to Soldiers in Afghanistan – Press Release

New Satellite Internet Service Offered to Soldiers in Afghanistan

WARSAW, Poland, Feb. 5 — TS2 Satellite Technologies company is introducing new broadband services on Eutelsat EB4 & W6 satellites to the Afghan market.

These types of telecommunication products are mainly used by the companies that execute contracts in Asia, as well as by the soldiers that are stationed in Afghanistan. Purchased bands gives TS2 unlimited possibilities of configuration and setting any telecommunication connections from the Near East region and South-Western Asia.

The broadband service offer two-way high-speed Internet access with no phone lines, no cable, no dial-up modem. It’s always online, available virtually anywhere, and affordable. The offered satellite system is ideally suited for broadband requirements such as Internet and VPN access to enterprise networks, as well as real-time VoIP and video conferencing.

The Internet connection can be shared with other users via wireless or wired network. Most soldiers deploy with a laptop in hand and a hookup to the Internet in their barracks. This is especially important for the many who are married, and have young children. The Internet access has resulted in major morale improvements. Troops no longer feel cut off from home.

Not all the Internet connectivity is just for staying in touch with the folks back home. The troops in Afghanistan use the Internet a lot for professional tasks, and not all of them are official business. Some troops blog, and many other stay in touch with military friends and associates in other parts of the world. The Internet has made possible many online communities composed of military professionals.

Without the new satellite system, large numbers of Soldiers will be without regular communications for much or most of their time in Afghanistan. The infrastructure is Spartan to non-existent.

Eutelsat’s W6 (formerly W3) satellite is located at 21.5 degrees East featuring 28 simultaneously active transponders. This satellite is ideal for applications such as VSAT networks, broadband Internet and data broadcasting. It is most suitable for companies that require communications between Europe, North Africa, the Sahara, the Middle East and the Gulf region.

The EUROBIRD 4, also called as EB4, is Eutelsat’s one of the satellites that provides coverage from 4 degrees East of Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and central Asia in Ku-band frequencies.

More information on http://www.ts2.pl/en/Internet-in-Iraq-and-Afghanistan .

Contact:

Marcin Frackiewicz
TS2 Satellite Technologies
phone +48 22 630 70 70
fax +48 22 630 70 71

http://www.ts2.pl

Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Integration Milestones on First Mobile User Objective System Satellite

Lockheed Martin Achieves Key Integration Milestones on First Mobile User Objective System Satellite

January 20, 2010 10:17:00 AM

SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan 20, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) announced today that it has successfully mated the first Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) satellite's high-performance communications system module with the propulsion core at its facilities in Sunnyvale, Calif. Supporting ultra-high frequency (UHF) satellite communications (SATCOM), MUOS will provide assured communications, including simultaneous voice, video and data, for mobile warfighters.

The MUOS system module, developed and tested at Lockheed Martin's facilities in Newtown, Pa., includes a legacy UHF payload provided by Boeing Satellite Systems (BSS), El Segundo, Calif., that is compatible with more than 10,000 deployed UHF SATCOM terminals that will transition to MUOS as existing UHF Follow-on (UFO) satellites reach the end of their on-orbit life. It also features a Lockheed Martin-built wideband code division multiple access payload that incorporates advanced technology to provide a 16-fold increase over legacy UHF SATCOM in the number and capacity of satellite links. These technologies will support new mobile satellite terminals that are under development within the Joint Tactical Radio System.

The propulsion core contains the integrated propulsion system and serves as the structural backbone of the satellite. Developed and tested at Lockheed Martin's Mississippi Space & Technology Center, the propulsion subsystem is essential for maneuvering the MUOS satellite during transfer orbit to its final location as well as conducting on-orbit repositioning maneuvers throughout its mission life.

"The successful mate of the system module with the spacecraft's propulsion core is another major milestone for the team and a critical step forward in our objective to successfully deploy MUOS for the warfighter," said Mark Pasquale, Lockheed Martin's MUOS program manager and vice president. "We look forward to executing the critical integration and test work at hand and achieving operational excellence and mission success for our customer."

The successful mate allows the MUOS team to begin environmental testing of the fully integrated satellite. The first MUOS satellite, along with the associated ground system provided by General Dynamics C4 Systems, Scottsdale, Ariz., are scheduled for on-orbit hand-over to the Navy in 2011.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Sunnyvale, Calif., is the MUOS prime contractor and system integrator. The Navy's Program Executive Office for Space Systems, Chantilly, Va., and its Communications Satellite Program Office, San Diego, Calif., are responsible for the MUOS program.

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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Space systems

Lockheed Martin Responds to the FY2011 NASA Budget Proposal to Cancel Orion

Lockheed Martin Responds to the FY2011 NASA Budget Proposal to Cancel Orion

February 3,2010 7:28:00 AM

BETHESDA, Md., Feb 03, 2010 -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) today released the following statement regarding the FY2011 budget request to cancel the Orion Project as part of NASA's Constellation Program:

We are keenly disappointed in the Administration's budget proposal for NASA that would cancel Project Orion as part of an elimination of NASA's Constellation Program. Orion's maturity is evident in its readiness for a first test flight in a matter of weeks. In fact, Orion can be ready for crewed flights to low Earth orbit and other exploration missions as early as 2013, thus narrowing the gap in U.S. human space flight capability when the shuttle is retired later this year.

Significant investment has already been made by the nation and private industry in Orion, which is human rated to provide a level of safety unmatched by any previous or currently proposed crewed vehicles. Nearly 4,000 people at more than 500 commercial companies and hundreds of small business suppliers across the country have worked diligently on the Orion project to support the nation's human space flight efforts. New facilities have been built and others upgraded. Innovative technologies such as a launch abort system, autonomous rendezvous and docking, closed-loop life support systems, state of the art solar power and avionics systems have been incorporated. And the next-generation of engineers, scientists, teachers and students, so critical to America's future, has been inspired. Cancellation of Orion would sacrifice these capabilities and accomplishments.

The President's budget proposal will, of course, be reviewed by Congress and ultimately will require Congressional approval. As the budget process moves forward, Lockheed Martin is committed to working with Congress, the Administration and NASA to ensure a safe, viable and robust space exploration program that does not cede U.S. leadership in space.

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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), NASA (National Aeronautics & Space Administration), Space systems

Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract From ITT to Build Long-Life Cryocoolers for Sensors on Two International Weather Satellites

Northrop Grumman Awarded Contract From ITT to Build Long-Life
Cryocoolers for Sensors on Two International Weather Satellites
February 3, 2010

Advanced ITT Sensors Will Provide Improved Data for Meteorologists

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. - Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) has been selected by ITT Corporation (NYSE:ITT) to provide flight cryocoolers for the sensor payloads for two international weather satellites. The geostationary satellites will provide round-the-clock weather forecasts and severe weather alerts. Cryocoolers are used to reduce thermal noise in space-based sensors.

The Northrop Grumman cooler design is based on the
flight-proven High Efficiency Cryocooler (HEC) pulse tube cooler and
will maintain the international satellites’ infrared detectors and
optics at cryogenic temperatures for more than 8 years. The ITT sensor
payloads will be based on the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) that ITT
is currently building for the Geostationary Operational Environmental
Satellite-R-series, or GOES-R, for NOAA’s next-generation geostationary
constellation. This improved imager has the capability to monitor three
times the number of atmospheric events when compared to current
generation payloads.

“With 16 cryocoolers now in orbit, two operating continuously
for more than 11 years, our heritage cryocoolers and electronics are
demonstrating unmatched reliability and performance in space,” said
Mark Folkman, director of Products and Sensing for Northrop Grumman
Aerospace Systems. This contract marks the third time a Northrop
Grumman cryocooler will have supported an international weather/climate
satellite.

A world leader in long life, high-reliability cryocoolers for
space applications, Northrop Grumman continues to enable sensor
performance for critical weather, climate, and science missions. Since
1998, more than 90% of the U.S. manufactured long-life pulse tube or
Stirling cryocoolers in space have been Northrop Grumman-built. Several
Northrop Grumman cryocoolers have exceeded their on-orbit performance
requirements, in some cases extending mission life beyond 10 years.

"ITT is proud to build meteorological payloads that help save
lives and protect property around the world, and we welcome Northrop
Grumman to the team that’s creating this extraordinary meteorological
instrument,” said Rob Mitrevski, vice president for Commercial and
Space Science programs, ITT Space Systems Division.

ITT Corporation is a high-technology engineering and
manufacturing company operating on all seven continents in three vital
markets: water and fluids management, global defense and security, and
motion and flow control. With a heritage of innovation, ITT partners
with its customers to deliver extraordinary solutions that create more
livable environments, provide protection and safety and connect our
world.

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Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), Space systems

Lockheed Martin-Built Instruments Ready for Launch on NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory

Lockheed Martin-Built Instruments Ready for Launch on NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory

February 3, 2010 9:03:00 AM

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb 03, 2010 -- Two state-of-the art solar instruments built at the Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory of the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in Palo Alto are awaiting launch on Feb. 9, 2010 aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket. The Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA), a suite of four telescopes, will provide an unprecedented view of the solar corona, taking images that span at least 1.3 solar diameters in multiple wavelengths nearly simultaneously, at a resolution of about one arc-second and at a cadence of ten seconds or better. The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI), designed in collaboration with Professor Philip Scherrer, HMI Principal Investigator, and other scientists at Stanford University, will study the origin of solar variability and attempt to characterize and understand the Sun's interior and magnetic activity.
"This is a very significant step for the solar physics community. Having AIA on the launch pad means we're getting very close to the time when this instrument will be providing the kind of data we need to unravel mysteries of the Sun that have been just beyond our grasp," said physicist - and Principal Investigator of AIA - Dr. Alan Title of the ATC. "Looking at the full Sun in a broad range of temperature bands every 10 seconds will give us unprecedented insight into the processes that determine the evolution of the corona."

The AIA will produce data required for quantitative studies of the evolving coronal magnetic field, and the plasma it holds, both in quiescent phases and during flares and eruptions. The primary goal of the AIA Science Investigation is to use these data, together with data from other SDO instruments and from other observatories, to significantly improve our understanding of the physics behind the activity displayed by the Sun's atmosphere, which drives space weather in the heliosphere and in planetary environments. Ultimately, it is hoped that the greater understanding gained of the observed processes will guide development of advanced forecasting tools needed by the user community of the Living With a Star (LWS) program.

"HMI combined with our partner instruments on SDO - the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly and the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment - will provide us with the data needed to first learn if predictions of solar activity are possible," said Professor Scherrer. "Then, if we and our colleagues in the solar physics community are clever enough, we'll actually develop forecast methods. This is an exciting time for studying the Sun and its impact on the Earth."

The primary goal of the HMI investigation on SDO is to study the origin of solar variability and to characterize and understand the Sun's interior and magnetic activity. Because of the turbulence in the convection zone near the surface, the Sun is figuratively ringing like a bell. By studying these oscillations of the visible surface of the Sun, considerable insight can be gained into the processes inside. In effect the solar turbulence is analogous to earthquakes, in a manner similar to how seismologists can learn about the interior of the Earth by studying the waves generated in an earthquake. HMI's helioseismologists learn about the structure, temperature and flows in the solar interior.

"HMI will provide us with sonograms of the Sun that will show us sunspots and magnetic fields before they appear on the visible surface," added Dr. Alan Title - co-investigator on HMI. "We'll even be able to see through the Sun and be aware of the birth of spots on the side facing away from us, allowing us to be ready for them as they rotate into our view. Moreover, HMI's high spatial resolution and full-Sun coverage will give us much more time to study magnetic field evolution in detail."

HMI will produce data necessary to determine the interior sources and mechanisms of solar variability and how the physical processes inside the Sun are related to surface magnetic field and activity. Because HMI can measure the strength and direction of the magnetic field on the surface, more precise estimates of the coronal magnetic field are possible. In addition, HMI observations will clarify the relationships between internal solar dynamics and magnetic activity, providing a better understanding of solar variability and its effects. The knowledge gained will enable a major advance in the development of a reliable predictive capability for solar flares and coronal mass ejections.

Solar scientists will use the third instrument on SDO - the Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) - to measure the Sun's brightness in the most variable and unpredictable part of the solar spectrum. The extreme ultraviolet, or EUV, ranges in wavelength from 0.1 to 105 nm. EVE will collect spectra over a broad EUV to UV range from the entire Sun. EVE and AIA will be able together to establish how local events like flares affect the entire solar spectrum.

The goal of SDO is to understand - striving towards a predictive capability - the solar variations that influence life on Earth and humanity's technological systems. The mission seeks to determine how the Sun's magnetic field is generated and structured, and how this stored magnetic energy is converted and released into the heliosphere and geospace in the form of solar wind, energetic particles, and variations in the solar irradiance.

Flying in a geosynchronous orbit, SDO will observe the Sun 24 hours a day without interruption, and downlink its data to the Science Operations Center at Stanford University. Quick look data will be available in near real time for assessment of current solar weather. Processed data will be available to both scientists and the general public as soon as its quality can be evaluated - usually on the order of a day. Public tools for searching the SDO database and for creating a variety of movies will be available.

SDO is the most advanced spacecraft ever designed to study the Sun and its dynamic behavior. SDO will provide better quality, more comprehensive science data faster than any NASA spacecraft currently studying the Sun and its processes. SDO will unlock the secrets of how our nearest star sustains life on Earth, affects the planets of our solar system and beyond.

SDO is the first mission and crown jewel in a fleet of NASA missions to study our Sun. The mission is the cornerstone of a NASA science program called Living With a Star (LWS). The goal of the LWS Program is to develop the scientific understanding necessary to address those aspects of the Sun and solar system that directly affect life and society.

SDO will study how solar activity is created and how space weather results from that activity. Measurements of the Sun's interior, magnetic field, the hot plasma of the solar corona, and the irradiance will help meet the objectives of the SDO mission. SDO is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center for the agency's Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC.

The Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory at the ATC has a 47-year-long heritage of spaceborne solar instruments including the Soft X-ray Telescope on the Japanese Yohkoh satellite, the Michelson Doppler Imager on the ESA/NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, the solar telescope on NASA's Transition Region and Coronal Explorer, the Solar X-ray Imager on the GOES-N and O environmental satellites, the Focal Plane Package on Hinode and an Extreme Ultraviolet Imager on each of the two spacecraft in NASA's Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory. The laboratory also conducts basic research into understanding and predicting space weather and the behavior of the Sun including its impacts on Earth and climate.

The ATC is the research and development organization of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company (LMSSC). LMSSC, a major operating unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation, designs and develops, tests, manufactures and operates a full spectrum of advanced-technology systems for national security and military, civil government and commercial customers. Chief products include human space flight systems; a full range of remote sensing, navigation, meteorological and communications satellites and instruments; space observatories and interplanetary spacecraft; laser radar; ballistic missiles; missile defense systems; and nanotechnology research and development.

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Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT), Space systems

Northrop Grumman-Built James Webb Space Telescope Sunshield Design Achieves Significant Landmark, Marks Major Mission Progress

Northrop Grumman-Built James Webb Space Telescope Sunshield Design Achieves Significant Landmark, Marks Major Mission Progress

REDONDO BEACH, Calif. – Feb. 2, 2010 – The five-layer, tennis court-sized sunshield for the Northrop Grumman Corporation
(NYSE:NOC)-built James Webb Space Telescope has passed its critical design review, certifying that its design is complete and meets mission
requirements. By achieving thermal, deployment and stray-light targets, the sunshield is now ready for manufacturing.

"Passing this review is the culmination of years of intense effort meeting the unique challenges that have defined this mission,"
said Scott Willoughby, Webb Telescope program manager for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems sector. "This is the first time a sunshield
of this size and complexity will fly on a space telescope. We've achieved a very significant mission-critical milestone with this
important validation of our sunshield design."

Sunshield manufacturing and test plans were also evaluated and approved as part of the review, which took place Jan. 11-14 at the
company's Redondo Beach, Calif., space systems manufacturing facility. The Observatory is being designed and developed by Northrop Grumman
under contract to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.

In preparation for the design review, 18 separate sub-assembly design audits were conducted on the sunshield’s extremely complex
system of latches, tensioners, spreader bars and telescoping boom assemblies. The goal was to validate these sub-assemblies at the system
level and evaluate points where they interface.

"There are no text books or guidelines on how to design and build a deployable sunshield of this size," said Keith Parrish, Webb
telescope Sunshield Manager at NASAGoddard. "Nearly a decade ago, NASA and Northrop Grumman had to start from scratch and literally invent the techniques, materials, and mechanisms needed to do the job. We still have quite the challenge in front of us now that we start into the
fabrication and testing phase, buts it's also a very exciting time."

The Webb telescope's sunshield is a five-layer structure the size of a tennis court. Each of the five membrane layers is about as
thick as a human hair (one to two-thousands of an inch thick) and is made of a polymer-based film called Kapton. The layers are separated
from each other and held in place by spreader bars and deployable booms. The sunshield will absorb and deflect solar light to keep the
telescope operating at cryogenic temperatures so infrared sensors can see into the most distant galaxies.

The Webb telescope is NASA's next-generation premier space observatory, exploring deep space phenomena from distant galaxies to
nearby planets and stars. The Webb Telescope will give scientists clues about the formation of the universe and the evolution of our own
solar system, from the first light after the Big Bang to the formation of star systems capable of supporting life on planets like Earth.
Expected to launch in 2014, the telescope is a joint project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

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NASA, Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC), Space Systems, James Webb Space Telescope

U.S. Air Force Awards United Launch Alliance WGS-4 Satellite Launch — Press Release

U.S. Air Force Awards United Launch Alliance WGS-4 Satellite Launch

DENVER, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ — The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center recently awarded United Launch Alliance a contract modification to perform the launch services for the Wideband Global SATCOM-4 (WGS-4) satellite aboard a Delta IV Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle. The anticipated launch period is December 2011 – February 2012 from Space Launch Complex-37 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla.

The WGS-4 mission will be the fourth satellite of the WGS system and the first in the Block II series. The WGS satellites are from the space component of a new high-capacity satellite communications system providing enhanced communications capabilities to America’s troops in the field for the next decade and beyond. WGS enables more robust and flexible execution of Command and Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR), as well as battle management and combat support information functions.

WGS-4 will join the existing constellation of the WGS-1, 2 and 3 satellites and provide additional information broadcast capabilities. WGS-1 and WGS-2 were both launched previously on ULA Atlas V rockets on Oct. 10, 2007 and Apr. 3, 2009 respectfully. WGS-3 was launched on a Delta IV on Dec. 5, 2009.

“Following the launch of WGS-3, United Launch Alliance is proud to continue our vital role in providing the latest technology for the warfighter with this contract for the fourth launch of a WGS spacecraft,” said Michael Gass, ULA President and Chief Executive Officer. “The WGS constellation was the first series of satellites to launch on both the Atlas V and Delta IV launch vehicles since the inception of ULA. This operational flexibility for our government customers was a primary reason for the creation of ULA.”

This mission will be launched by the Delta IV Medium+ (5,4) configuration using a single common booster core with a Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne RS-68 main engine with four Alliant Techsystems GEM 60 solid rocket motors, a PWR RL10B-2 upper stage engine and a five-meter diameter upper stage and composite payload fairing.

ULA program management, engineering, test and mission support functions are headquartered in Denver, Colo. Manufacturing, assembly and integration operations are located at Decatur, Ala., Harlingen, Texas, and San Diego, Calif. Launch operations are located at CCAFS, Fla., and Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

For more information on the ULA joint venture, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321).

Source: United Launch Alliance

CONTACT: Michael Rein of United Launch Alliance, +1-321-730-5646, cell,
+1-321-693-6250, michael.j.rein@ulalaunch.com

Web Site: http://www.ulalaunch.com/

Report On NASA Technical Briefs Offered

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General Dynamics-Built Landsat Data Continuity Mission Spacecraft Passes Critical Design Review — Press Release

General Dynamics-Built Landsat Data Continuity Mission Spacecraft Passes Critical Design Review

FAIRFAX, Va., Dec. 8 /PRNewswire/ — General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems successfully completed the Critical Design Review (CDR) for the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center’s Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM) spacecraft which is scheduled for launch in December 2012. General Dynamics is responsible for the design and fabrication of the spacecraft bus, integration of the government-furnished instruments, satellite-level testing, on-orbit satellite check-out and continuing on-orbit engineering support. General Dynamics will also provide a spacecraft/observatory simulator. General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a business unit of General Dynamics (NYSE:GD) .

General Dynamics is building the LDCM spacecraft in its state-of-the-art satellite manufacturing facility in Gilbert, Arizona. The company has previously built 13 satellites, including NASA’s Swift, RHESSI and Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope, as well as GeoEye’s GeoEye-1 satellite. The company is using mature, qualified, flight-proven components to reduce development time, shorten integration time and improve performance.

The complete LDCM system design was presented to the NASA Independent Review Team representing NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and Kennedy Space Center, the United States Geological Survey and The Aerospace Corporation.

Since 1972, Landsat satellites have collected information about Earth from space and archived imagery of the Earth’s surface for use in agriculture, education, business, science and government. The Landsat Data Continuity Mission observatory will include evolutionary advances in technology and performance.

The next major milestone for the LDCM team is the Spacecraft Integration Readiness Review scheduled for April 2010.

Headquartered in Fairfax, Va., General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems is a provider of end-to-end mission solutions in systems integration, development and operations support to customers in the defense, intelligence, space and homeland security communities. The company integrates land, air, sea, space and cyber assets to facilitate the collection, exploitation, analysis and dissemination of mission-critical intelligence information. More information is available online at www.gd-ais.com.

General Dynamics, headquartered in Falls Church, Va., employs approximately 92,300 people worldwide. The company is a market leader in business aviation; land and expeditionary combat systems, armaments and munitions; shipbuilding and marine systems; and information systems and technologies. More information about General Dynamics is available online at www.gd.com.

Source: General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems

CONTACT: Lucy Ryan of General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems,
+1-703-272-6010, or Cell: +1-703-216-7595, Lucy.Ryan@gd-ais.com

Web Site: http://www.gd-ais.com/

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