WASHINGTON — NASA, in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites Program, has awarded an instrument contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, Md. The contract is for one instrument, with three options for additional instruments. The total estimated value including options is $178 million.
The contractor will design and develop the Solar Ultraviolet Imager instrument, which will fly on the next generation of geostationary satellites. The first satellite in the GOES-R series is set to launch in December 2014.
The instrument will provide broadband imaging in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength to monitor dynamic features on the sun, from coronal holes to flares. It also will provide better direct measurements of solar features. These data are used for geomagnetic storm forecasts and predictions of solar energetic particle events related to flares.
The contractor will provide post-delivery support for the Solar Ultraviolet Imager. Most of the work will be performed at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Palo Alto, Calif.
NOAA funds, operates and manages the GOES-R Program. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the acquisition of GOES-R instruments for NOAA.
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