Science and Environment Satellites

Science and Environment Satellites
Northrop Grumman is one of the industry's leading providers of science and environment satellites used to conduct astrophysics, Earth science/remote sensing, heliophysics, planetary exploration and technology demonstration missions. Our extensive and flight-proven line of small- and medium-class spacecraft platforms allows customers to select the right solution for their mission requirements and budget.

Celebrating 25 Years of the Chandra X-ray Observatory
Over the past 25 years, NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory has made extraordinary discoveries about the universe. One of NASA's Great Observatories, Chandra was designed and built to observe X-rays alongside the Hubble and Spitzer Space Telescopes and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope
Northrop Grumman leads the industry team for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest, most complex and powerful space telescope ever built.

Flight-Proven Designs, High Reliability
Our robust spacecraft platforms employ heritage designs throughout, and our rigorous processes and comprehensive test regimes have enabled many of our science and environment satellites to far exceed their mission lifetimes. Spacecraft are provided either as individual spacecraft or as turnkey systems leveraging Northrop Grumman's launch, spacecraft and ground systems capabilities at competitive prices.
Current Programs
Satellite programs currently in development at Northrop Grumman's Dulles, Virginia, Gilbert, Arizona, and Azusa, California satellite facilities include:
- Joint Polar Satellite System 3 and 4 (JPSS-3 and JPSS-4)
- Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)
- Compton Spectrometer and Imager (COSI)
- Helioswarm
- Ultraviolet Explorer (UVEX)

Supporting NASA’s Explorers Program


