NPP ground system handed over to NG

SUITLAND, Md., July 20 (UPI) -- U.S. company Raytheon announced a milestone achievement for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System project.

Raytheon, part of the NPOESS team that includes Northrop Grumman Corp., NASA and the NPOESS Integrated Program Office, announced the delivery of the final portion of the NPOESS Preparatory Project ground system to Northrop Grumman for operations marking a milestone as the program prepares for launch.

The NPOESS is designed to provide weather and climate data for defense and civil applications. The NPOESS Preparatory Project is a "risk-reduction mission for NPOESS," a news release said.

"We can now fully support real-time data transmission from the ground site at Svalbard, Norway, through product delivery at National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Air Force centrals," Michael Mader, Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems vice president of space and environmental mission solutions, said in a statement.

"This handover culminates a tremendous effort by all parties, from the integrated program office team, NASA, contractors and end-users. NPOESS Preparatory Project will take a major step in advancing the state-of-the-art in environmental remote sensing."