NASA awards NOAA GOES-R Lightning Mapper instrument contract

WASHINGTON, 28 Jan. 2008.NASA, in coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES-R) program, has selected Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company of Palo Alto, Calif., to build the Geostationary Lightning Mapper. The total estimated value is $96.7 million, including options.

The instrument will fly on the next series of GOES-R satellites and monitor the quantity and intensity of lightning flashes. The satellites will upgrade existing weather and environmental monitoring capabilities. The first launch of the series is scheduled for December 2014.

Lockheed Martin will design and develop the instrument at its Palo Alto facility. The contractor also will provide pre-launch, launch and post-launch support.

NOAA funds, operates and manages the GOES program. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., manages the acquisition of GOES-R instruments for NOAA.