Government/Military

The Joint Standoff Weapon C-1 (JSOW C-1) variant completed its critical design review, Raytheon Co. [RTN] announced. JSOW C-1 adds moving maritime target capability and a two-way data link to the JSOW family. "JSOW C-1 will represent the world’s first network-enabled weapon when it is delivered to the warfighter in 2010," said Cmdr. Andrew "Chunder"...

NASA in two weeks will hold a symposium for small-business representatives where they can meet officials from prime contractors, and receive briefings from NASA officials, but the deadline to register is today, the space agency announced last week. To register, please go to http://acquisition.jpl.nasa.gov/boo/2008sbsym/index.asp on the Web. The Small Business Symposium and Awards Ceremony will...

Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC] completed manufacturing and integrating a spacecraft engine that runs on "green," non-toxic propellants — liquid oxygen and liquid methane — for possible use on NASA human exploration missions to the moon, Mars and beyond. The company’s TR408 second-generation, oxygen-methane 100 pound-force reaction control engine (RCE) was designed for the Propulsion and...

Northrop Grumman Corp. [NOC] delivered its 25th Aegis guided missile destroyer to the Navy. Truxtun (DDG 103), built by Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding, recently completed acceptance trials in the Gulf of Mexico, the final milestone prior to ship delivery. The ship was delivered 10 weeks ahead of schedule. Arleigh Burke Class destroyers are made separately by...

A satellite that India launched carries systems to seek ice in polar regions of the moon that are aided by new technologies, Raytheon Co. [RTN] announced. The Forerunner miniaturized-radio frequency system was delivered by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory to the Indian Space Research Organization in March, integrated onto the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, and launched...

NASA gave Armadillo Aerospace of Rockwall, Texas, a $350,000 prize during the Northrop Grumman Lunar Lander Challenge in Las Cruces, N.M. The challenge is a two-level, $2 million competition designed to accelerate commercial space technology and is sponsored by NASA’s Centennial Challenges program. After Armadillo’s $350,000 first place win for level one this year, $1.65...

The Missile Defense Agency broke ground on its new Headquarters Command Center (HQCC) at Fort Belvoir, Va. The new $38.5 million MDA faciity is part of the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure 2005 process and supports 292 employees. The project will consist of a 99,001 square-foot, multi-story building, which includes administrative space, reception...

Lockheed Martin Corp. [LMT] delivered the latest block of flight software for the first geosynchronous orbit (GEO-1) spacecraft in the Space Based Infrared System (SBIRS) program. Lockheed also completed acoustic testing of the first geosynchronous orbit (GEO-1) spacecraft in the SBIRS program. The Air Force SBIRS program is designed to provide early warning of missile...

[Satellite Today 10-31-08] China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp. (CASC) launched Venezuelan’s first satellite, Simon Bolivar (Venesat-1), Oct. 30, according to Xinhua.     The satellite was placed in orbit by a Long March 3B launch vehicle from the Xichang Satellite launch center in Sichuan province. Venesat-1 is based on the DFH-4 bus and was manufactured...

 [Satellite Today 10-30-08] The U.S. National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) has purchased the entire CitySphere 2.0 product from DigitalGlobe, the company announced Oct. 30.      CitySphere 2.0 is an enhanced version of DigitalGlobe’s library of on-demand digital satellite and aerial imagery of the most populated cities around the globe. The product will enable the NGA to...