ABB To Build Spaceborne Interferometer

QUEBEC CITY -- - ABB, the power and automation technology group, announced an agreement on the last phase of a contract with ITT Industries worth over US$30 million to develop and build a Fourier-transform interferometer, a core component of the CrIS instrument.

This instrument will be part of the American NPOESS satellite payload, including the preparatory project which is scheduled to fly in mid 2006.

ABB has been contracted to develop, engineer and produce three space-qualified Fourier transform interferometers, calibration equipment and data retrieval algorithms, as part of the CrIS instrument. ABB's scope includes engineering services, hardware (optics, mechanical assemblies, electronics) and software.

"This contract is the result of a long-term collaboration between ITT and ABB that began in the early 1990's," notes Chris Young, Program Director for ITT. "ABB is considered a strategic partner and key to the success of ITT Industries' Aerospace/Communications Division in interferometer technology. ABB's contribution will represent one of the most efficient spaceborne interferometers ever built, leading to unprecedented instrument performance."

"With over 25 years' experience, ABB is among the top five organizations worldwide with the expertise to develop and build a spaceborne Fourier-transform interferometer," states Don Murray, Vice President, Advanced and Analytical Solutions group. "In parallel with this expertise, ABB's remote sensing department has also acquired a solid reputation in spaceborne and airborne instruments development."

About the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) will converge existing polar-orbiting satellite systems under a single American national program. Polar-orbiting satellites observe Earth from space. They collect and disseminate data on Earth's weather, atmosphere, oceans, land, and near-space environment. The polar orbiters are able to monitor the entire planet and provide data for long-range weather and climate forecasts.

The program is managed by the tri-agency Integrated Program Office (IPO) utilizing personnel from the US Department of Commerce, the US Department of Defense and NASA. Northrop Grumman Space Technology acts as NPOESS prime contractor and was awarded a $4.5 billion US contract for the overall system design and development, system engineering, system integration, acquisition of instruments and assembly and test of the spacecrafts.

About Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)

The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument provides improved measurements of the temperature and moisture profiles in the atmosphere. Forecasters use temperature and moisture sounding data in advanced numerical weather prediction models to improve both global and regional predictions of weather patterns, storm tracks, and precipitation. The currently used High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) instrument provides about 20 infrared channels of information and is able to characterize atmospheric temperature profiles to an accuracy of 2 to 3 degrees Kelvin. Modern and future forecast models demand higher accuracy. The CrIS will provide over one thousand spectral channels of information in the infrared and will be able to measure temperature profiles with improved vertical resolution to an accuracy approaching one degree Kelvin.