[Satellite Today 12-02-08] Ambient Electro-Magnetic Interference (EMI) testing was completed on the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Sensor (VIIRS) for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS), Raytheon Co. announced Dec. 2.
    According to Raytheon, the testing verified that the flight unit operates in a space-like configuration without emitting or being susceptible to electro-magnetic signals that could interfere with the spacecraft or other sensors’ operations. Comprehensive vibration testing is expected to start this month. The flight instrument will be subject to thermal vacuum testing in 2009.
    Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for NPOESS, leading a team that includes subcontractor Raytheon under a government contract to the NPOESS Integrated Program Office and headed by a tri-agency group of the U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Department of Commerce, and NASA.
    The VIIRS flight unit will be integrated onto the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft acquired by NASA.