Posted on March 6, 2013, at 2:47 pm .
Brevard County, Fla., EDC PR (March 4, 2013) – The Economic Development Commission of Florida’s Space Coast (EDC) is pleased to announce that Northrop Grumman intends to expand its presence on the Space Coast and add more than 900 jobs, including hundreds of engineering positions.
As part of consolidation within its Aerospace Systems sector, Northrop Grumman today announced plans to open a Manned Aircraft Design Center of Excellence in Melbourne, which will include aircraft design work currently being performed at the company’s Bethpage, N.Y., facility. The company will also establish an Aircraft Integration Center of Excellence in St. Augustine.
Continue reading ‘Florida Space Coast Gets Boost With Northrop Grumman Consolidation’
Posted on February 25, 2013, at 9:42 am .
Credit: Golden Spike Company
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
With human flights beyond Earth orbit not expected to occur for at least eight years, the private sector is increasingly eying deep space for a series of ambitious robotic and human missions for both adventure and profit.
Nine programs are currently underway that include robotic and human landings of the moon, human flybys of the moon and Mars, the mining of the moon and asteroids, and even a settlement on Mars. Backers of these initiatives include the X Prize Foundation, Google and its executives, and the world’s first space tourist, Dennis Tito.
Continue reading ‘Private Sector Seeks Profit, Adventure Beyond Earth Orbit’
Posted on November 1, 2012, at 6:19 am .
RD-180 test firing. (Credit: NASA)
Space News reports on the progress of a program that could lead to a replacement for Atlas V’s Russian-supplied first stage engine:
Negotiations on a proposal in which NASA and the U.S. Air Force would jointly fund an Aerojet-led propulsion project that could pave the way for a U.S. alternative to the Russian-built RD-180 rocket engine are bogged down over cost sharing issues, according to government and industry officials.
The impasse centers on how much funding the Air Force would provide for tests Aerojet has proposed as part of a program aimed at upgrading NASA’s heavy-lift Space Launch System (SLS) crew and cargo rocket. Aerojet is one of four companies NASA selected in July to work on liquid- and solid-fueled booster concepts meant to improve SLS’s lift capacity and affordability.
Continue reading ‘NASA, Air Force Haggle Over Cost Sharing on New Engine’
Posted on October 23, 2012, at 10:51 am .
REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Oct. 22, 2012 (Northrop Grumman PR) – Doug Shane, president of Northrop Grumman Corporation’s Scaled Composites business, was presented the prestigious 2012 James H. Doolittle Award by the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) on Sept. 29 in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments and engineering achievements in aerospace technology.
“Doug has been a force of innovation and leadership in aerospace design and test for over 30 years,” said Paul Meyer, vice president and general manager of advanced programs and technology for Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “His ability to think outside the box and pull forward revolutionary ideas through test and operation has directly influenced the current and future state of the aerospace industry. We are fortunate to have Doug’s leadership on our team.”
Continue reading ‘Scaled President Doug Shane Honored with Prestigious Doolittle Award’
Posted on October 2, 2012, at 8:18 am .
WASHINGTON (NASA PR) – NASA has awarded three contracts totaling $137.3 million to improve the affordability, reliability and performance of an advanced booster for the Space Launch System (SLS). The awardees will develop engineering demonstrations and risk reduction concepts for a future version of the SLS, a heavy-lift rocket that will provide an entirely new capability for human exploration beyond low Earth orbit.
The initial 77-ton (70-metric-ton) SLS configuration will use two 5-segment solid rocket boosters similar to the boosters that helped power the space shuttle to orbit. The evolved 143-ton (130-metric-ton) SLS vehicle will require an advanced booster with more thrust than any existing U.S. liquid- or solid-fueled boosters. These new initiatives will demonstrate and examine advanced booster concepts and hardware demonstrations during a 30-month period.
Continue reading ‘NASA Awards SLS Advanced Booster Contracts to ATK, Dynetics and Northrop Grumman’
Posted on August 10, 2012, at 5:24 am .
REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Aug. 9, 2012 (Northrop Grumman PR) — Northrop Grumman Corporation has become a member of the Hosted Payloads Alliance (HPA), joining the wide variety of companies that support an increasing role for defense and commercial contractors in helping government agencies find timely and cost-effective ways of acquiring space assets and services.
The alliance was formed in 2011 to increase awareness about the benefits of hosted payloads on commercial satellites. Members consist of spacecraft operators, satellite manufacturers, system integrators and launch vehicle providers.
Continue reading ‘Northrop Grumman Joins Hosted Payload Alliance’
Posted on July 2, 2012, at 9:11 am .
By Douglas Messier
Parabolic Arc Managing Editor
DARPA has awarded six contracts for its Airborne Launch Assist Space Access (ALASA) program, which is designed to produce a rocket capable of launching a 100-pound satellite into low Earth orbit for less than $1 million. Winners include Virgin Galactic, Lockheed Martin, Boeing and Northrup Grumman.
Continue reading ‘DARPA Awards 6 Small Airborne Launch Vehicle Contracts’
Posted on June 26, 2012, at 5:11 pm .
Space.com reports that Virgin Galactic has revived a plan to use its WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft to launch small satellites into orbit using a rocket in the place of SpaceShipTwo.
Continue reading ‘Report: Virgin Galactic Revives Air-Launch Satellite Project’
Posted on February 1, 2012, at 12:02 pm .
REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Jan. 31, 2012 (NGC PR) — Northrop Grumman Corporation was recently awarded a contract to study high-power solar electric propulsion flight system technology for NASA deep space and human exploration missions.
“In collaboration with our partners, we are working on alternatives to the typical solar array approach,” said Jim Munger, solar electric propulsion program manager, Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. “Our concept will be scalable to 300 kilowatts and beyond and have the potential for reducing the cost and complexity of high-power requirements.”
Continue reading ‘Northrop Grumman Developing Solar Electric Propulsion Under NASA Contract’
Posted on December 23, 2011, at 6:50 am .
Stratolaunch vehicle. (Credit: Stratolaunch)
NGC PR — REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Dec. 22, 2011 — Northrop Grumman Corporation expanded its commercial space portfolio with Stratolaunch Systems’ recent selection of Scaled Composites, a Northrop Grumman subsidiary, to build the largest aircraft ever constructed. This is the latest example of the company’s innovative solutions to challenging problems. Scaled Composites is developing an air-launch system for Stratolaunch Systems, which is a Paul G. Allen project that will revolutionize space transportation by providing orbital access to space at lower costs, greater safety and increased flexibility.
Continue reading ‘Stratolaunch Extends Northrop Grumman’s Commercial Space Portfolio’
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