Raytheon Receives Approval for Precision Placement of NPOESS Antennae

Raytheon Co. received approval of its environmental assessment from the National Science Foundation (NSF) for precision placement of two National Polar-orbiting Operational Environment Satellite System (NPOESS) SafetyNet&trede;data-receipt antennae at the McMurdo Bay research station in Antarctica.

This milestone will enable construction to begin on the NPOESS antennae or receptor sites in McMurdo during the 2007-2008 Southern Hemisphere summer.

With the harsh weather and remote polar environment, antennae placement is very difficult and adequate planning is vital to complete this work on schedule. NPOESS will monitor global environmental conditions and collect and disseminate data related to weather, atmosphere, oceans, land and near-space environment.

SafetyNet, a major feature of the NPOESS ground system, is a unique and innovative network of fifteen data-receipt antennae sites and fiber-optic communications around the world. SafetyNet will provide the time-critical NPOESS data to civil, military and science users in fewer than 30 minutes, compared to current data delivery for US polar-orbiting weather satellite systems, which require more than two hours.

The optimum for weather forecasting is to have the most minimal data delivery time possible, increasing the ability to forecast weather in a more timely and accurate manner. “NPOESS data is vital for future weather analysis and forecasting to support military operations, civil applications and scientific research,” said Mike Mader, vice president and NPOESS program lead for Raytheon Co.

“The NSF approval of this environmental assessment culminates two years of Raytheon and government efforts to secure key worldwide NPOESS receptor sites and is further evidence that collaboration between the NPOESS Integrated Program Office, NSF and the Northrop Grumman-Raytheon team work well.” Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems is part of the Northrop Grumman Corp.-NPOESS team. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor and has overall responsibility for the program development effort.