Northrop Grumman Achieves Key Milestone in Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission

Rhea-AI Summary

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NOC) Successfully Completes Key Milestones for Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM)

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• Northrop Grumman has delivered two major components of the ASBM and has started the next phase of pre-launch preparations, showcasing the company's strong progress in the project.
• The ASBM aims to deliver protected satellite communications to the Northern polar region, addressing a crucial need for connectivity in one of the most challenging locations on earth.
• The ASBM is a combined effort between the U.S. Space Force, Space Norway, and Northrop Grumman, highlighting the collaborative nature of the project.
• The successful delivery of the Control and Planning Segment ground system to the U.S. Space Force and the on-time delivery of both Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization payloads demonstrate Northrop Grumman's commitment to meeting project milestones.
• The ASBM-1 satellite entering thermal vacuum environmental testing marks a significant step forward in the pre-launch phase, signaling progress towards the mission's completion.

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WASHINGTON, Aug. 07, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) has delivered two major components of the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM) and has started the next phase of pre-launch preparations. This two-satellite constellation will deliver protected satellite communications to the Northern polar region – one of the most difficult locations on earth to deliver communications.

The most recent accomplishments include:

• Successful delivery of the Control and Planning Segment (CAPS) ground system to the U.S. Space Force
• On-time delivery of both Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization (EPS-R) payloads to the Space Force
• Integration of the EPS-R payload and successful completion of thermal-vacuum environmental testing on the first space vehicle.

ASBM-1 satellite enters thermal vacuum environmental testing at Northrop Grumman’s satellite manufacturing facility in Dulles, Virginia. (Photo Credit: Northrop Grumman)

ASBM is a combined effort between the U.S. Space Force, Space Norway and Northrop Grumman. ASBM uses the Northrop Grumman GEOStar-3 platform, which includes the main satellite structure and systems required to maintain operation, such as power, propulsion, communications, command and data handling, thermal control and guidance and navigational control. Northrop Grumman also provides the payload and ground system for this critical capability.

“Northrop Grumman’s end-to-end space technology capabilities represent a powerful model for government and commercial partnerships in space, marked by greater agility and affordability,” said Tom Wilson, corporate vice president and president, Northrop Grumman Space Systems. “Our work to deliver protected polar satellite communications will fill a critical need for our customers.”

The CAPS ground system was delivered to the Space Force in March following successful completion of the site acceptance test, functional configuration audit/physical configuration audit and DD-250 sell-off. CAPS is currently transitioning to the operations phase which opens the door for using the ground system for early operations with the two on-orbit operational EPS payloads along with the capability to support the two EPS-R payloads after the ASBM launch.

The satellites also carry multiple hosted payloads, including an X-Band payload for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, a Ka-Band payload for Inmarsat and the Norwegian Radiation Monitor payload commissioned by the European Commission.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with the capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day.        

Contact:

David B. Larter
703-347-2984
david.larter@ngc.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f932e023-5814-4a88-b773-297823856b1b

FAQ

What is the Arctic Satellite Broadband Mission (ASBM)?

The ASBM aims to deliver protected satellite communications to the Northern polar region, addressing the challenging connectivity needs of the area.

Who is involved in the ASBM project?

The ASBM is a combined effort between the U.S. Space Force, Space Norway, and Northrop Grumman, highlighting the collaborative nature of the project.

What are the recent accomplishments of Northrop Grumman in relation to ASBM?

Northrop Grumman has delivered two major components of the ASBM and has started the next phase of pre-launch preparations, including the successful delivery of the Control and Planning Segment ground system to the U.S. Space Force and the on-time delivery of both Enhanced Polar System Recapitalization payloads.

What are the capabilities of the Northrop Grumman GEOStar-3 platform used in ASBM?

The GEOStar-3 platform includes the main satellite structure and systems required to maintain operation, such as power, propulsion, communications, command and data handling, thermal control, and guidance and navigational control.

What are the hosted payloads carried by the ASBM satellites?

The satellites carry multiple hosted payloads, including an X-Band payload for the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, a Ka-Band payload for Inmarsat, and the Norwegian Radiation Monitor payload commissioned by the European Commission.