Boeing

Boeing [NYSE:BA] has assembled a best of industry team to bid on the next-generation geostationary weather and environmental system for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The team includes Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and Harris Corp.

The next-generation Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite System, known as GOES-R, is an end-to-end system that will provide an uninterrupted flow of high quality environmental data to users and facilitate meeting NOAA's overall mission goals -- "to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation's economic, social, and environmental needs."

"We have assembled a world-class team whose innovative system integration methodology as well as spacecraft, ground systems and data processing technologies -- along with more than 30 years of experience developing space based environmental systems -- will contribute to the development of a superior solution for the GOES-R system," said Roger Roberts, senior vice president and general manager of Boeing's Space & Intelligence Systems business unit. "We will develop GOES-R as the enabling first step of NOAA's Global Earth Observation System of Systems."

Boeing is currently the prime contractor for the next series of geosynchronous environmental systems, GOES NOP. The GOES NOP program consists of three state-of-the-art imaging spacecraft and the supporting ground command and control elements. Scheduled to launch this year, the GOES-N satellite will provide imaging and sounding of the environment of the western hemisphere; information which will result in earlier and more precise weather warnings for the public. Boeing also is building the Conical Scanning Microwave Imager/Sounder (CMIS) instruments for the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System. CMIS, a critical instrument for the NPOESS program, provides highly accurate meteorological and oceanographic data.

The Boeing team includes:

• Harris Corp., which has more than 40 years of experience developing data processing and distribution systems for meteorological satellites. For GOES-R, Harris will provide system integration solutions that incorporate advanced ground data processing and command, control and communications technology.
• Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. brings an extensive history with spaceborne remote sensing instruments to the team and will lead the Payload Instrument Accommodation, which includes delivering the integrated and tested payload suite. Ball is currently under contract to provide the integrated NPOESS Preparatory Project Observatory and NPOESS instruments.
• Atmospheric and Environmental Research, Inc. has participated in the engineering design of sensors and systems for major national remote sensing programs. For GOES-R, AER will apply its simulation and modeling capabilities to ensure that environmental analysis products derived from the satellite system are optimized for widespread commercial use.
• Carr Astronautics has a heritage of developing advanced Image Navigation and Registration (INR) technology to the current GOES N, O, and P missions. Carr Astronautics will provide its INR and data sensor processing expertise to the GOES R team.