Raytheon Completes Tests on Environmental Sensor

(El Segundo, Calif., December 3, 2008) -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has successfully completed ambient electromagnetic interference testing on the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Sensor for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System.

The testing at Raytheon's manufacturing facility in El Segundo verified that the VIIRS flight unit operates in a space-like environment without emitting or being susceptible to electromagnetic signals that could interfere with the spacecraft or the operation of other sensors.


Comprehensive vibration testing is expected to start this month. Several months of thermal vacuum testing are scheduled for the sensor next year. During this time, it will be exposed to thermal cycles typical of space.

"This important milestone further validates the technical performance of the VIIRS instrument, which will provide critical new capabilities in weather forecasting, disaster response, and warfighter planning," said Brian Arnold, vice president for the Raytheon Space Systems group.

Source : Raytheon