14 DAY TRIAL // Officials from the United States Air Force (USAF) finally authorized the funding of the Defense Weather Satellite System (DWSS). The contract was awarded to the Northrop Grumman Corporation.
The authorization came from USAF commanders at the Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC), which is based at the Los Angeles Air Force Base (LAAFB), in California. Now, the path is clear for Northrop to proceed ahead with getting the satellite ready to launch.
The DWSS will make the best of the accomplishments and momentum achieved by the now-canceled National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program. Only the NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft remains on track for launch.
At this point, the first prototype of the new satellite is scheduled to lift off to orbit in 2018. Until then, Northrop needs to transition its work from the NPOESS contract to the DWSS program.
When the new satellite constellation is up and running, its capabilities will far surpass those of any of its contestants. The amount of data it will provide will be unsurpassed, and the speed at which this will be done will have no equal, USAF officials say.
“For DWSS, we have defined an effective program plan that leverages the high level of maturity achieved on the spacecraft and sensors that are already in production, and we continually work closely with the Air Force to pursue efficiencies throughout the program,” explains Linnie Haynesworth.
“Our team is prepared to immediately execute a successful and affordable program to bring this critical capability to the warfighter,” adds the expert, who is the vice president of Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems, and the DWSS program director.
The official explains that the new satellites will be the successors of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The US military has been using these spacecraft since the mid-1960s.
“Timely completion of DWSS is essential to maintain continuity with the current DMSP satellites and establish a backup in the event of a launch or satellite failure on orbit for the remaining two DMSP satellites,” a Northrop Grumman press release reads.
“Time-sensitive weather data delivered promptly is critical to military operations planning and warfighter and weapons deployment,” the document concludes.