GREENBELT, Md. - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) Goddard Space Flight Center has released a draft request for proposals for the Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications instrument, a next-generation passive microwave sensor under development through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Near Earth Orbit Network program.
The Sounder for Microwave-Based Applications, or SMBA, is designed to produce global atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles in both cloud-covered and clear-sky conditions. The data will support numerical weather prediction models, operational forecasting, and broader environmental monitoring applications for NOAA and the science community.
NASA said the instrument effort is part of NOAA’s NEON Series-1 project, which is intended to provide continuity with the Joint Polar Satellite System Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder while introducing expanded capabilities, including additional frequency bands, higher-resolution microwave observations, and radio frequency interference detection.
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NEON notes
The NEON program was established following NOAA’s Satellite Observing System Architecture study, which assessed future low Earth orbit environmental sensing needs and underscored the importance of sustained microwave-sounding observations for global weather forecasting.
Under the draft statement of work, the contractor would be responsible for the full development of the instrument, including design, fabrication, integration, testing, verification, delivery, and post-launch commissioning support. The requirements apply to all SMBA flight units unless otherwise specified, and the effort is structured to support development, production, and task-order contract line-item elements.
NASA and NOAA describe SMBA as a next-generation passive microwave sounder designed to extend atmospheric observation continuity beyond current operational systems. The instrument is expected to provide vertical profiles of temperature and water vapor, which serve as key inputs to global numerical weather prediction models that rely heavily on microwave sounding data.
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SmallSats
The NEON Series-1 architecture calls for a set of single-instrument small satellites operating in sun-synchronous low Earth orbit with a design life of approximately five years each. The system includes flight, launch, and ground segments, along with command and control, data routing, processing, distribution, and archival capabilities.
The architecture also supports both scheduled downlinks and continuous direct broadcast, enabling near-real-time data access for operational users. NASA said the program is adopting commercial space practices where possible to support flexible deployment and cost-effective long-term continuity of microwave sounding observations.
NASA named Bruce Tsai as the primary point of contact for this RFP. They can be reached via email at [email protected]. More information is available at https://sam.gov/workspace/contract/opp/84a8d34c03a8417094d9cda794475a80/view.
