[Satellite Today – 2-27-08] Raytheon Co. has completed the first phase of a major communications upgrade for Antarctica, a significant milestone for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), Raytheon announced Feb. 27.
    The upgrade of the off-continent satellite communications link at McMurdo Station more than triples the bandwidth available for scientific research, weather prediction, and health and safety of those stationed at McMurdo. The project is part of the NPOESS command, control, and communications segment.
    "This upgrade paves the way for a second major communications upgrade planned for 2012 in preparation for the use of McMurdo Station as one of 15 NPOESS ground stations worldwide," said Mike Mader, vice president of Raytheon’s NPOESS program in a statement. "NPOESS will be significant to monitoring global environmental conditions and will collect and disseminate data related to weather, atmosphere, oceans, land and near-space environment."