The U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center has selected Harris Corporation (NYSE:HRS) for a 5-year, $495 million multi-vendor IDIQ contract for the Hosted Payload Solutions (HoPS) program. The program will leverage commercial spacecraft to speed the implementation and reduce the cost of future government space applications.
Harris will match government payloads with commercial spacecraft and provide integration, testing, infrastructure and operations services to accommodate, launch and operate the payloads.
Initial potential HoPS candidates include NASA, NOAA, the Air Force Military Satellite Communications Systems Directorate, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Potential missions cover a broad spectrum of applications, including scientific research, search and rescue, communications and others.
“HoPS is an ambitious undertaking that further validates the benefits of putting government payloads into space on a commercial platform,” said Bill Gattle, vice president and general manager, National Programs, Harris Government Communications Systems. “The Harris team brings broad experience in hosted payloads augmented by highly reliable, global ground teleports and communications networking infrastructure.”
The Harris HoPS team consists of more than a dozen companies recognized as leaders and innovators in space, including: ABS, AsiaSat, Airbus Defence and Space, Globalstar, GreenDart, Iridium Communications Inc., Millennium Engineering and Integration, O3b Networks, ORBCOMM, Sierra Nevada Corporation, Surrey Satellite Technology, Telesat and Thales Alenia Space.
About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 125 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5 billion of annual revenue and about 14,000 employees — including 6,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications® products, systems, and services. Additional information about Harris Corporation is available at harris.com.
