[11-29-07 – Satellite Today] The second of two Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corp. for the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) has completed thermal vacuum testing, Northrop Grumman announced Nov. 29.
    Thermal vacuum testing is conducted to confirm that the satellite will operate according to specifications in its space environment. A key mission element demonstrated was the space vehicle’s ability to detect and track a target missile. Crews located at the Missile Defense Space Experimentation Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., also took control of the space vehicle to conduct on-orbit functional and performance tests including simulated scheduled communications opportunities.
    The first STSS space vehicle completed thermal vacuum testing in May, and both satellites will be launched in 2008. On orbit, they will support the MDA’s Ballistic Missile Defense System Test Bed detecting and tracking missiles in all phases of flight and allow the assessment of the STSS system’s capabilities and its ability to operate in concert with other parts of the missile defense architecture.