RESTON, Va., June 30, 2009 -- Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) announced today it has pledged a $1 million donation to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. The funding will support a new exhibit showcasing the evolution of timing and navigation systems and the tremendous benefit of these advancements for everything from precision military planning to calculating your route home.
The exhibit, tentatively named "Time and Navigation: From Chronometers to GPS," will open in the fall of 2012 and will explore the cultural and technological aspects of precise timekeeping and orientation. Highlights of the exhibit will include: a walk-through 19th century sailing vessel, a submarine navigation center, navigation satellites, aircraft and a robotic vehicle.
"As a pioneer in space technology, we have a deep appreciation for the possibilities of modern GPS on our world, and are very proud to support this exhibit," said Linda Mills, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman's Information Systems sector. "We believe it will remind all Americans of our many technical innovations in positioning, navigation and timing and the enormously positive impact of these accomplishments over time. Northrop Grumman shares a true passion for this realm of scientific achievement and looks to this exhibit to inspire the next generation of science and engineering leaders to continue reaching for the stars."
As the Major Sponsor, Northrop Grumman's donation will help build, provide resources, and operate the exhibit. Northrop Grumman is a leading provider of military and civil space systems and satellite payloads, as well as a leading integrator of complex satellite technology to the U.S. government and global customers.
The exhibit will span three centuries and explore efforts to travel beyond Earth through the solar system. It will draw on parallels between the basic human desire to experience new environments with societal efforts to discover distant worlds.
Northrop Grumman Corporation is a leading global security company whose 120,000 employees provide innovative systems, products, and solutions in aerospace, electronics, information systems, shipbuilding and technical services to government and commercial customers worldwide.
CONTACT: Marynoele Benson Northrop Grumman Information Systems (703) 345-6734 marynoele.benson@ngc.com Megan Mitchell Northrop Grumman Information Systems (703) 556-2737 megan.mitchell@ngc.com