NASA Awards Radiometer And Ground System Contracts For JPSS

NASA has awarded two sole source contracts on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the common ground system and a scientific instrument on the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1). 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.

NASA Awards Infrared Sounder Contract For First JPSS Spacecraft

NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has awarded a sole source contract to ITT Corporation of Ft. Wayne, Ind. The award is for the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument planned for flight on the first Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS-1) in 2014. JPSS is the restructured civilian portion of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). This includes the satellites and sensors supporting civil weather and climate measurements and a shared ground infrastructure with the Department of Defense weather satellite system.

NASA is the procurement agent for these assets, and the agency's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., is the lead for acquisition for the program. This is a cost-reimbursement contract of approximately $98.6 million, with a period of performance through September 2014. Under this contract, ITT will manufacture, test and deliver the CrIS, support instrument integration on JPSS-1, and provide launch and post-launch support. The instrument will be identical to the CrIS planned for flight on the NPOESS Preparatory Project mission.

CrIS is the first in a series of advanced operational instruments that will provide detailed atmospheric temperature and moisture observations for weather and climate applications. This high-spectral resolution infrared instrument will measure atmospheric temperatures, water vapor and trace gases. Forecasters use the data in computer models to improve global and regional predictions of weather patterns, storm tracks and precipitation. This information will significantly improve climate prediction and short- and long-term weather forecasting.