Northrop Grumman Makes Critical Contributions to STP-3 Mission for US Space Force

Northrop Grumman Corporation technologies played a vital role in the U.S. Space Force’s Space Test Program (STP)-3 mission. Today, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket successfully launched the Northrop Grumman-built Space Test Program Satellite (STPSat)-6 and the Long Duration Propulsive Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV) Secondary Payload Adapter (ESPA), known as LDPE-1, into orbit in support of STP-3. Northrop Grumman also provided critical components to the Atlas V rocket, continuing more than three decades of support to this program.

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Built on Northrop Grumman’s highly successful LEOStar-3 platform, STPSat-6 is the primary spacecraft for the STP-3 mission. STP-3 supports advanced communications capabilities, the collection of space weather data and nuclear detonation detection in the Earth’s atmosphere or in near space. LDPE-1, launched along with STPSat-6, was built using Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar bus. LDPE-1 hosts diverse payloads for the government and offers affordable ridesharing services to the Space Force.

“STPSat-6 and LDPE both provide flexible and cost-effective access to space while supporting critical technology development and operational payloads,” said Blake Bullock, vice president, national security systems, Northrop Grumman. “Northrop Grumman’s ESPAStar flexible, modular product line enables us to provide mission-critical solutions for today’s rapid-response space environment.”

STPSat-6 carries several payloads for the Department of Defense (DoD), National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) and NASA, which includes the Space and Atmospheric Burst Reporting System (SABRS-3), NASA’s Laser Communication Relay Demonstration (LCRD) and several experiments from the DoD Space Experiments Review Board.

Northrop Grumman also provides key elements in ULA’s Atlas V launch vehicle. The 63-inch-diameter Graphite Epoxy Motor (GEM 63) solid rocket motors were used on the ULA Atlas V for the first time since their inaugural flight in November 2020. Five strap-on boosters, manufactured at the company’s Magna, Utah, facility, were used in today’s launch, each contributing 371,500 pounds of maximum thrust. The company manufactured the Atlas V rocket’s reaction control system propellant tanks at its Commerce, California, facility, and eight retro motors at its Elkton, Maryland, facility that assist first and second stage separation.

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Using advanced fiber placement manufacturing and automated inspection techniques, Northrop Grumman produced the composite heat shield that provides essential protection to the ULA Atlas V first stage engine, the Centaur Interstage Adapter that houses the second stage engine, and the broadtail that adapts from the core vehicle to the five-meter diameter fairing. Northrop Grumman fabricated these structures at its Iuka, Mississippi, facility.

Northrop Grumman is a technology company, focused on global security and human discovery. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect, advance and protect the U.S. and its allies. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers’ toughest problems, our 90,000 employees define possible every day.

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