NOAA announced that it has awarded contracts to Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Greenbelt, Md., Boeing Satellite Systems of Los Angeles and Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems of Redondo Beach, Calif. Each contract, valued at $10 million, will obtain program definition and risk reduction studies for NOAA's future series of Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites R-series Program (GOES-R).

The GOES-R series of satellites will continue NOAA's geostationary satellite program and represents an opportunity to improve weather forecasting and bring added capabilities for monitoring US coastal waters and lightning detection.

The contracts have a basic requirement and two options that, if exercised, could increase each contract's value to $30 million. When performing the contract, each contractor will conduct studies that define system concepts capable of meeting specified performance requirements of the GOES-R satellite series. After the studies are complete, NOAA will publicly announce and solicit proposals that will result in one award for the development and production of the GOES-R end-to-end system.

GOES-R is the latest series of satellites with sophisticated Earth-imaging and atmospheric sensors that will make major contributions in understanding weather and environmental factors that impact the United States and the western hemisphere. Additionally, advanced technologies aboard GOES-R will provide new coastal and lightning mapping capabilities. The GOES-R system includes ground systems and data distribution to the ultimate users.

"Each GOES-R series satellite will improve our overall environmental-monitoring capabilities and make key contributions to the Global Earth Observation System of Systems [GEOSS]," said retired Navy Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., Ph.D., undersecretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department, is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation's coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging GEOSS, NOAA is working with its federal partners and nearly 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.