Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/8007-harris-awarded-contract-for-ground-segment-of-goes-r-weather-satellite-system

Harris Awarded Contract for Ground Segment of GOES-R Weather Satellite System

June 2, 2009

Harris Corp., an international communications and information technology company, has been awarded a 10-year, potential $736 M contract to provide a complete, end-to-end solution for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite — Series R Ground Segment (GOES-R GS) program.

The Harris team will design, develop, deploy and operate the GOES-R ground segment, which will receive and process satellite data, and generate and distribute weather data to more than 10,000 direct users. Harris will also provide the command and control of operational satellites. The Harris team is providing a service-based, open-architecture solution that will accommodate the anticipated 40-times increase in data to be ingested, processed and distributed. The first launch of a GOES-R series satellite is scheduled for 2015.

Today's GOES satellites provide the images and time-lapse sequences familiar to most Americans because they are commonly used in television weather forecasts. The satellites are the primary tool used by NOAA to detect and track hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes and other severe weather in the continental US and the western hemisphere. The next-generation GOES-R system will provide significantly improved image resolution and increase the rate of imagery coverage of earth surfaces from every 30 minutes to every five minutes in normal conditions, and every 30 seconds during periods of severe weather.

"GOES-R will play a vital role in our nation's ability to provide timely, accurate weather service to the public, and the Harris team is proud to support NOAA as a true technology partner in this endeavor," said Howard L. Lance, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Harris. "The Harris GOES-R ground segment solution is a flexible, end-to-end system that reflects the company's more than five decades of proven expertise in satellite data processing, command and control, and automated product generation and distribution. It provides the advanced technology required in the near future while allowing for continuous improvement and expansion as the GOES-R mission evolves."

Harris is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the ground segment of the program. Members of the Harris GOES-R GS team include: Atmospheric and Environmental Research Inc., Boeing Mission Operations, Carr Astronautics, Honeywell Technology Solutions Inc., Wyle Information Systems LLC, and Applied Research and Engineering Sciences.