NASA Finalizes JPSS-1 Contracts
By Jeffrey Hill | August 14, 2012
[Satellite TODAY 08-14-12] NASA has completed negotiations with several satellite companies and has finalized its contracts for the spacecraft and instruments that comprise the Joint Polar Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1), NASA confirmed Aug. 13.
JPSS-1 is the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) second next-generation operational polar-orbiting satellite and is scheduled to launch in 2017. JPSS-1 will follow the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite to maintain continuity of NOAA’s weather and environmental observations.
NASA signed its final contract with Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems in June for the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instrument. The Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) contract was signed with Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems in April.
NASA completed the JPSS-1 spacecraft and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite instrument contract with Ball Aerospace in 2011. The contract to Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems for the JPSS Ground System also was completed in 2011, as was the Crosstrack Infrared Sounder (CrIS) instrument contract with ITT Exelis.