NASA Awards Instrument Contract for Joint Polar Satellite System Missions

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Mar 17, 2016, 02:19 ET

GREENBELT, Md., March 17, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA has awarded a sole source contract modification to Northrop Grumman, of Azusa, California, for two Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder instruments for NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Polar Follow On / JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 Missions.

This is a cost-plus-award-fee new work modification. The total value of this contract is increased from $212,769,576 to $390,474,167. This action extends the period of performance to 18 months after the launch of JPSS-4.

Under this contract, Northrop Grumman will manufacture, test and deliver the ATMS instruments, support instrument integration on the spacecraft and provide launch and post-launch support. The Polar Follow On / JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 ATMS instruments will be designed to perform like the ATMS currently flying on the NOAA/NASA Suomi-NPP Mission.

ATMS is a passive microwave instrument that works in conjunction with the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) to produce global atmospheric vertical temperature and moisture profiles. ATMS provides high spatial resolution microwave temperature and humidity sounding data in all conditions, including cloud cover. NOAA forecasters use these data in computer models to improve global and regional predictions of weather patterns, storm tracks and precipitation. This information significantly improves short- and long-term weather forecasting.

NOAA funds the JPSS missions to provide global environmental data in low Earth polar orbit. NASA is the acquisition agent for the flight systems and components of the ground segment for JPSS.

For more information about JPSS, visit:

http://www.jpss.noaa.gov

For information about NASA and agency programs, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov

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SOURCE NASA