CARPINTERIA, Calif., Feb. 29, 2012 -- Astro Aerospace, a strategic business unit of Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC), has achieved certifications in two quality management systems that together signify the company meets rigorous requirements and international quality standards for the aerospace, defense and space industry.

Astro Aerospace achieved the transition from AS9100 Revision B to Revision C, showing that the company's quality management system conforms with clearly defined business processes to measure effectiveness in meeting customer requirements. The business unit also received certification to the ISO 9001:2008 standard at both locations.

The maker of space deployable structures received certification covering its Carpinteria headquarters as well as its manufacturing high bay in Goleta, Calif. Prior to transitioning to the new revision of AS9100, both sites were certified to the earlier revision of AS9100. Astro Aerospace received the certification after a third-party audit in November 2011 by BSI Group America Inc., a quality management systems registrar.

"Attaining this certification, coupled with our record of 100 percent mission success, demonstrates our continued commitment to a quality management system with the ability to produce and continually improve reliable products on time," said John Alvarez, general manager. "We are committed to a strong focus on customer satisfaction and continual improvement."

BSI America Inc. will continue to perform semi-annual assessments of Astro Aerospace to verify continued compliance.

Astro Aerospace-built products have contributed to the success of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in detecting huge glaciers on the Red Planet covered by a layer of dust and rocks, as well as to the European Mars Express that's searching for water and studying the atmosphere of that planet, among many other achievements.

For more than 50 years, Astro Aerospace has pioneered the technology of space deployable structures and mechanisms, including large deployable mesh reflectors. Astro has delivered hardware for hundreds of space flight missions with a 100 percent on-orbit deployment success rate. Please visit http://www.as.northropgrumman.com/businessventures/astroaerospace for more information about Astro Aerospace.

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 http://www.northropgrumman.com/ for more information. 

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