Northrop Grumman Extends Its Commercial Space Portfolio

REDONDO BEACH, Calif., Dec. 22, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Northrop

Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) expanded its commercial space portfolio

with Stratolaunch Systems' recent selection of Scaled Composites, a

Northrop Grumman subsidiary, to build the largest aircraft ever

constructed. This is the latest example of the company's innovative

solutions to challenging problems. Scaled Composites is developing an

air-launch system for Stratolaunch Systems, which is a Paul G. Allen

project that will revolutionize space transportation by providing

orbital access to space at lower costs, greater safety and increased

flexibility.

"This private spaceflight initiative represents a significant leap

forward in defining technologies today which will open doors tomorrow

for affordable commercial space transportation," said Paul Meyer, vice

president and general manager of advanced programs and technologies for

Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems. "Whether it be manned and unmanned

aircraft, space systems or advanced technologies, we are focused on

developing innovative solutions that enable the growth of the aerospace

industry."

With a gross takeoff weight of more than 1.2 million pounds, the

carrier aircraft will have a wingspan of 385 feet -- greater than the

length of a football field -- and takeoff and land from a runway that

is at least 12,000 feet long. Using six 747 engines, the aircraft will

fly over 1,300 nautical miles to reach an optimal launch point for

10,000 pound-class payloads. The development work will take place in

Mojave, Calif.

The Stratolaunch project marks the next step in space travel that began

with the development of SpaceShip One, the first privately funded

manned spacecraft to fly beyond the earth's atmosphere.

SpaceShip One and its carrier aircraft, White Knight, were developed

through a joint venture between investor Paul Allen and Scaled

Composites, which was founded by Burt Rutan and later acquired by

Northrop Grumman. On June 21, 2004, SpaceShip One made its historic

flight to space and four months later, was the first private manned

spacecraft to exceed an altitude of 328,000 feet twice within 14 days,

earning it the prestigious $10 million Ansari X-Prize. The technology

behind SpaceShip One has since been leveraged into efforts with

business entrepreneur Richard Branson of Virgin Group to create a space

launch system for Virgin Galactic, a venture that will take paying

customers into suborbital space.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing

innovative systems, products and solutions in aerospace, electronics,

information systems, and technical services to government and

commercial customers worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com

for more information.