Northrop Grumman will highlight its specialized space capabilities at SATELLITE 2014 for products ranging from secure military satellite communications to antenna technologies that will help NASA monitor California's ongoing drought.

The annual conference and exhibition is being held March 10-13 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Programs featured at the company's exhibit - No. 7111 - will include two company initiatives that leverage government and company investments in technologies to make SATCOM more affordable and resilient.

Protected satellite communications: Northrop Grumman is showcasing products that incorporate technologies the company developed for the U.S. Air Force's protected satellites currently on orbit but adapted for future architectures.

These include (1) hosted payloads for the Enhanced Polar System (EPS), which will provide continuous coverage for secure, jam-resistant, strategic and tactical military satellite communications in the North Polar Region; (2) the EPS Control And Planning Segment (CAPS), which leverages foundational capabilities for an affordable, scalable, pathfinder mission control capability for any variety of future protected satellite communications architecture options; and (3) Low Cost Terminals for affordable protected satellite communications for tactical fighting forces.

Gallium Nitride Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (GaN MMIC): The company has developed a line of GaN MMICs for military and commercial uses based on its high-frequency GaN process that achieved top-level performance and quality under military contracts received beginning in 2002. Target customers are in the defense and commercial ground satellite communication terminal markets and the commercial wireless infrastructure market.

Scientific missions will be another focus of Northrop Grumman's activities at SATELLITE 2014. Astro Aerospace, a Northrop Grumman strategic business unit, is providing a deployable satellite reflector and boom assembly for NASA's Soil Moisture Active/Passive (SMAP) mission.

The agency says SMAP will advance its ability to monitor droughts like the evolving one in California, and predict floods and mitigate their related impacts on people's lives.

The company also will give a presentation that explains the various components of protected SATCOM Wed., March 12, at 10:30 a.m. in the main exhibit hall - Exhibitor Showcase Theater. The speaker will be Northrop Grumman's Tim Frei, vice president, communication systems.

Learn more about programs Northrop Grumman is featuring at SATELLITE 2014 by visiting an online media kit here