[Satellite Today 12-16-08] The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP), a risk reduction mission for NPOESS, will be the first major element of the next generation U.S. Earth observation system when it is launched in 2010, prime contractor Northrop Grumman announced Dec. 16.
    The NPP science instruments will provide data to bridge climate measurements coming from NASA‘s Earth observation system research satellites. Three sensors have been delivered for integration onto NPP, and additional testing is being performed to reduce risk until the remaining two sensors are delivered.
    The announcement comes after U.S. government customers representing NASA, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Department of Defense along with representatives of Northrop Grumman, Raytheon Co. and Ball Aerospace participated in a three-day mission operations readiness review of the NPOESS.
    The review assessed the program’s flight concept of operations, project management, operations and sustainability plans, safety and mission assurance, system design, technical management, trainingm and product validation and other aspects of the program.
    The launch of the NPOESS system is planned for 2013.