NASA Awards Radiometer And Ground System Contracts For JPSS

JPSS is the restructured civilian portion of the National
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)
that will make afternoon observations as it orbits Earth. The system
includes the satellites and sensors supporting civil weather and
climate measurements and a shared ground infrastructure with the
Department of Defense weather satellite system. JPSS-1 is expected to
be ready for launch in 2014.

The Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument
contract has been awarded to Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems of
El Segundo, Calif. This is a cost-reimbursement contract of
approximately $314 million with a period of performance through
September 2018. Under this contract, Raytheon Space and Airborne
Systems will design, manufacture, test and deliver two VIIRS
instruments. VIIRS will gather data on a wide range of Earth's
properties, including the atmosphere, clouds, radiation budget,
clear-air land and water surfaces, and sea surface temperature.

The Common Ground System contract has been awarded to the Raytheon
Corporation of Aurora, Colo. This is a cost-reimbursement contract of
approximately $1.4 billion with a period of performance through
September 2018. Under this contract, Raytheon will design,
manufacture, test and deliver hardware, software, and related
services for the mission operations of the JPSS ground system.

NOAA is responsible for the JPSS program. NASA is the program's
procurement agent, and the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in
Greenbelt, Md., is the lead for acquisition. Data and imagery
obtained from JPSS will increase the timeliness, accuracy and
cost-effectiveness of public warnings and forecasts of climate and
weather events, reducing the potential loss of human life and property.

For more information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

Source: NASA

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