by Garth Meyer
The Northrop Grumman team that led the design and construction of the James Webb Space Telescope has been named recipients of the 2023 National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Collier Trophy for “revolutionizing the field of astrophysics with the pioneering design and exceptional performance” of the telescope.
The award is the highest honor in the field of U.S. aerospace and astronautics.
Northrop Grumman designed and built the Webb’s sunshield and spacecraft bus (body and structural component).
The company then oversaw its total system integration, and prepared the telescope for launch on Christmas Day 2021.
Webb is the world’s first deployable telescope (it unfolded in space), and features 10 new technologies.
“It is one of the greatest achievements in aerospace history,” said Kathy Warden, president of Northrop Grumman. “In a matter of months, the Webb has changed our understanding of the universe, and many more discoveries lie ahead. We dedicate the Collier Trophy to the Northrop Grumman employees and our industry partners who delivered humanity an extraordinary observatory to explore the universe and inspire future generations.”
The Collier Trophy, awarded since 1911, recognizes an individual or a team each year. Past winners include its first honoree, Orvill Wright, Howard Hughes (1938), Neil Armstrong (1969) and the team which engineered the B-2 (Stealth) bomber (1991).
Northrop Grumman representatives will be presented this year’s award at the National Aeronautic Association (NAA) Gala in Washington, D.C.
Northrop Grumman began work on the Webb telescope in 2002. The subject of the Collier award is the company’s efforts 20 years later, in 2022, notably for the in-space, in-flight January unfolding of the Webb’s sunshield and mirrors through a complex series of deployments and maneuvers – all rehearsed and perfected at Space Park in Redondo Beach.
The telescope’s first images were released last July.
The Webb’s 10 technological inventions include its deployable sunshield, new thermal control, optics and detection systems, cryocooler technologies and the creation of a new, lightweight composite backplace to hold the mirror, scientific instruments and telescope optics.
Ball Aerospace of Westminster, of Colorado, designed and built the mirror and cameras. Other key contributors to the project were L3Harris, NeXolve and Raytheon.
Redondo resident Willoughby to receive USC Award
On Thursday, Northrop Grumman’s Scott Willoughby will be presented the USC Epstein Engineering Management Award, which recognizes USC alumni for contributions to the field of engineering.
Willoughby, a 34-year Northrop Grumman employee, served as vice president and program manager for the Webb telescope, overseeing all aspects of the program, including total systems integration, design, development and delivery.
Willoughby began his career in 1989 at TRW, which was later bought by Northrop Grumman. He went to Lehigh University for his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering, then USC for a master’s in communication systems. ER
