Article Posted on : - Mar 25, 2011

An artist's illustration of the new STSS missile defense demonstration satellites in orbit. A Northrop Grumman photo.

WASHINGTON (BNS): The Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) Demonstration satellites built by Northrop Grumman has for the first time tracked an Aegis missile target from “birth-to-death” on March 14.

Doug Young, Northrop Grumman’s vice president of missile defense and warning programs, said the so-called birth-to-death tracking of a ballistic missile launch had never been done before from space and is the most significant achievement to date for the STSS spacecraft.

The full-course tracking exercise was part of Missile Defence Agency (MDA) initiatives for early intercept and closing the fire control loop with interceptors, he said.

The twin demonstration satellites, each featuring infrared sensors, have been proving space-based missile defense capabilities since their launch in 2009, he added.

Company executives representing three sectors provided an overview of activities supporting the MDA during a media briefing on Tuesday.