Proposal Continues Five Decades of Partnership With NASA & NOAA

Lockheed Martin submitted its proposal Monday to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to design and build the spacecraft for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite - Series R (GOES-R), the next generation geostationary environmental satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The proposal builds upon Lockheed Martin's 48 years of successful partnership with NASA and NOAA providing reliable weather and environmental satellite systems on schedule including TIROS, NIMBUS, UARS, Terra and Landsat. In addition, the proposal incorporates knowledge from Lockheed Martin's successful GOES-R Program Definition and Risk Reduction contract.

"By working closely with our customer, our GOES-R team has developed a strong, low-risk proposal that will considerably expand the capability of our nation's weather sentinel," said Joanne Maguire, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "We appreciate the significant value GOES brings to the citizens of our country on a daily basis, and we look forward to partnering with NASA and NOAA to ensure continuity of this valuable asset."

Lockheed Martin's solution builds upon the A2100 geosynchronous spacecraft bus and proven precision imaging capabilities from past remote sensing programs such as IKONOS and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

"We are the recognized industry leader in space-based sensor integration for Earth remote sensing, planetary, astronomical and intelligence missions, and low-risk, reliable geostationary spacecraft," said Jim Crocker, vice president of Sensing and Exploration Systems at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "Our team is ready to seamlessly transition into the implementation phase of this critical national system."

Data from NOAA's GOES spacecraft provide accurate real-time advance weather warning products to the commercial, educational, and public sectors to protect lives, property and the environment, and to foster economic growth and promote educational research. The future GOES-R mission will improve the quality and timeliness of its forecasts, thereby generating significant economic benefits to the nation in the areas of weather and water, climate, ecosystems monitoring and management, and commerce and transportation.

The contract is scheduled to be awarded by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in late 2008, and will include two GOES-R satellites -- with first delivery in 2014 -- and options for two more spacecraft. The total program value is expected to exceed one billion dollars.

FMI: www.lockheedmartin.com, http://osd.goes.noaa.gov/