[Satellite TODAY 03-31-11] Northrop Grumman’s Space Tracking and Surveillance System (STSS) demonstration satellites completed an Airborne Laser Test Bed exercise as part of a U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) development program for future satellite defense systems, Northrop Grumman announced March 30.
    During the test, the STSS demonstration satellites produced quicker responses to targets, as the MDA increased its performance requirements from previous tests, according to Gabe Watson, vice president of missile defense and missile warning programs for Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems sector.
    "The STSS track sensor was cued significantly faster than in previous tests, which was required with this scenario. STSS generated a track with the acquisition sensor and autonomously passed the track to the multi-band track sensor for the first time against a missile target. The system performed very well, without operator control, and provided high-quality track data to the ground station," Watson said in a statement.