Article Posted on : - Sep 17, 2010

A Northrop Grumman photo

REDONDO BEACH, CALIFORNIA (BNS): Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) developed by Northrop Grumman has shown an increased set of capabilities when it detected and tracked another satellite on July 19.

The STSS Demonstration program accomplished another first by tracking a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather satellite for several minutes using multiple track sensor bands, said Gabe Watson, vice president of missile defense and missile warning programs.

"Detecting and tracking a resident space object is yet another indication of the kinds of capabilities space-based sensors can bring to missile defense and the nation," Watson said.

"Tracking the NOAA satellite was a significant accomplishment for the STSS test program because it represents precision tracking of a surrogate for a ballistic missile target in the midcourse phase."

US Missile Defense Agency (MDA) is pursuing the STSS Demonstration program as a space-based sensor component of the Ballistic Missile Defense System.

The STSS satellites will provide missile defense sensor risk reduction concepts to support development and fielding of a future missile defense operational satellite constellation.