NASA awards Orbital ATK contract for NOAA's JPSS-2 spacecraft

Washington – NASA has awarded a delivery order under the Rapid Spacecraft Acquisition III (Rapid III) contract to Orbital ATK (formerly Orbital Sciences Corporation) of Dulles, Virginia, for the Joint Polar Satellite System-2 (JPSS-2) spacecraft.

 

The JPSS-2 spacecraft will provide operational continuity of satellite-based observations to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide critical weather forecasts, while advancing climate, environmental, and oceanographic science. This is a firm fixed-price, indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity delivery order for the purchase of the JPSS-2 spacecraft with options to purchase the JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 spacecraft.

 

The JPSS missions continue to leverage the successful 40-year NOAA/NASA partnership. NASA is the acquisition agent for the flight systems, launch services, and components of the ground system.

 

The value of the JPSS-2 portion is $253 million with a period of performance from March 30 through July 31, 2020. The value of Option One for the JPSS-3 spacecraft is $130 million and will extend the period of performance through July 31, 2024. The value of Option Two for the JPSS-4 spacecraft is $87 million and will extend the period of performance through July 31, 2028. If all options are exercised, the total value of this delivery order will be $470 million.

 

These options, as part of full funding of the Polar Follow-on activities outlined in NOAA's fiscal year 2016 President's Budget Request, would allow the JPSS program to extend operations of the overall JPSS polar-orbiting satellite system as far as fiscal year 2038.

 

Orbital will be responsible for designing and fabricating the JPSS-2 spacecraft, integration of government-furnished instruments, satellite-level testing, on-orbit satellite check-out, and mission operations support. The contractor also will provide five Flight Segment Emulators. The work will be performed at the contractor's facility and at the launch site.

 

This contract provides a rapid and flexible means to procure spacecraft in support of the scientific and technology development goals of NASA and other federal government agencies.