Next Generation Weather Satellite Constellation Contractor Selected
Lockheed Martin to Build GeoXO Satellites for NOAA
The next generation of NOAA weather satellites will be built by Lockheed Martin under a contract awarded by NASA. The baseline contract is for three spacecraft with options for four additional spacecraft. The total estimated value of the contract including options is $2.27 billion.
"Our GeoXO design draws heavily from what we've learned with GOES-R spacecraft over the last 15 years.”
Kyle Griffin, Lockheed Martin
The GeoXO (Geostationary Extended Observations ) mission will continue and expand upon critical observations of weather provided by the Lockheed Martin-built GOES-R Series geostationary satellites to include new observations of our oceans and air pollution. GeoXO's new capabilities will deliver more accurate weather forecasting and address emerging environmental issues and challenges that threaten our economy and safety. GeoXO and the nation's weather satellites are vital infrastructure for national resilience.
"Our GeoXO design draws heavily from what we've learned with GOES-R spacecraft over the last 15 years, while incorporating new, digital technologies not only onboard the vehicles but in the design and development of this powerful, weather-monitoring platform of the future," said Kyle Griffin, vice president and general manager of Commercial Civil Space at Lockheed Martin.
GeoXO represents an expansion of our nation's geostationary weather satellite enterprise, its capabilities and continued U.S. technological leadership. The geostationary constellation will help NOAA provide better, more accurate information on severe weather patterns, marine ecosystems, air quality and our changing climate.
With new instruments onboard, the observatories will have a major impact including: the first geostationary observations of our coastal ecosystems that supports resilient coastal communities, near real-time hyperspectral sounding to map the state of the atmosphere, enhanced lightning observations for severe convection monitoring, and continental U.S.-wide observations of harmful pollutants in the air we breathe.
The first GeoXO launch is planned for the early 2030s and will maintain and advance NOAA's critical geostationary observations through the late 2050s.
The GeoXO spacecraft is based on Lockheed Martin's modernized LM2100 satellite bus, which provides more performance and flexibility for addressing NOAA's mission needs over the coming decades. The platform features SmartSat technology that enables new software pushes and capabilities as environmental data needs change over time.