NASA selects Orbital Science as contractor to supply ICESat-2 Spacecraft

Posted by Courtney E. HowardWASHINGTON, 1 Sept. 2011. Orbital Science Corp. of Dulles, Va., won from NASA a $135 million delivery order to build the Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2) spacecraft. ICESat-2 will measure the topography of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets and the thickness of sea ice with precision laser ranging, including electro-optic equipment. NASA engineers will use lasers aboard the spacecraft to gather measurement data for research activities.

Orbital Science Corp. staff will design and fabricate the ICESat-2 spacecraft bus, integrate the government-furnished instrument, and provide satellite-level testing, on-orbit satellite check-out, and on-orbit engineering support. The contract—which covers core spacecraft systems and non-standard services, including operations, launch, components, and studies—is intended to meet the government's space science, Earth science, and technology needs.

The ICESat-2 delivery order falls under the Rapid III multiple-award indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The principle purpose of the Rapid III contract is to provide core spacecraft systems with any necessary modifications to meet specific mission needs.

ICESat-2 supports NASA's Earth science program, aiding its scientists in gaining a better scientific understanding of the Earth system as well as its response to natural and human-induced changes.