Honeywell wins $450 million contract to provide ground systems and mission operations to NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Posted by Courtney E. Howard

PHOENIX, 8 Sept. 2011. Officials at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) sought technology to extend the operations of aging satellites, as well as to devise ground systems for new research satellites. They found their solution at Honeywell (NYSE:HON). The company won a five-year, $450 million contract to deliver ground systems and mission operations (GSMO) services for the agency's fleet of scientific research satellites.

Honeywell engineers will work with GSFC staff not only to help extend the life of existing research satellites, but also to optimize new satellites that will support future scientific space research activities. Honeywell personnel will also develop concepts of operations, provide systems engineering, and integrate and test new satellite ground systems from launch to orbit operations through October 2016.

"Honeywell has partnered with NASA since its inception to develop and advance the U.S. space program," reveals Charles Harvey, president of Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc. "Today, our technologies will re-set the operational life and value of NASA research satellites, enabling the agency to continue to meet commitments on a wide range of missions of vital importance to humankind."

The NASA research satellite program is focused on gaining a better understanding of natural disaster characterization, climate change, ground topography mapping, agricultural efficiency, and electromagnetic effects on the earth.