U.S. Space Systems Command (SSC) on Wednesday said that the Next Generation Overhead Persistent Infrared (OPIR) Polar (NGP) space vehicle being developed by Northrop Grumman [NOC] recently passed the critical design review (CDR), marking the last key milestone before fabrication begins.
“This successful CDR milestone shows the space vehicle meets standards and is on track to continue our launch planning efforts,” Lt. Col. Nicholas Laliberte, material lead for SSC’s NGP program, said in a statement. “As a major component of our series of checks and evaluations, this success boosts our confidence the program will deliver essential capabilities to the warfighter to counter aggressive actions from U.S. adversaries.
SSC said the CDR included more than 50 subsystem, mission payload, and space vehicle design reviews. In addition to clearing the way to begin manufacturing the satellite, the successful CDR also greenlights coding, assembly, integration, and testing of the satellite, SSC said.
Northrop Grumman will build two NGPs, which will operate in highly elliptical orbits to detect and track ballistic and hypersonic missiles over the northern polar region. The company received a potential $2.4 billion contract in 2020 for NGP.
The initial launch capability for the first satellite is projected to be fiscal year 2028, SSC said.