NASA has awarded Lockheed Martin a significant contract to develop and manufacture the next-generation weather satellite constellation, known as Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO), for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The baseline contract covers three spacecraft initially, with options for an additional four spacecraft, bringing the total potential value of the contract, including options, to $2.27 billion.
GeoXO builds upon the critical weather observations provided by Lockheed Martin’s GOES-R Series geostationary satellites. Beyond weather forecasting, GeoXO will expand its capabilities to include new observations of oceans and air pollution. These advancements aim to enhance weather forecasting accuracy and address emerging environmental challenges crucial to national safety and economic resilience.
The GeoXO mission represents a significant expansion of the nation’s geostationary weather satellite capabilities, underscoring U.S. technological leadership. The constellation will enable NOAA to deliver more precise information on severe weather patterns, marine ecosystems, air quality, and climate changes. Key features include the first geostationary observations of coastal ecosystems, near real-time hyperspectral sounding of the atmosphere, enhanced lightning monitoring for severe weather, and nationwide detection of harmful air pollutants.
Scheduled for launch in the early 2030s, the GeoXO spacecraft will utilize Lockheed Martin’s advanced LM2100 satellite bus, equipped with SmartSat technology. This platform offers increased performance and flexibility to meet NOAA’s evolving mission requirements through the late 2050s. The SmartSat technology enables updates and new capabilities to adapt to changing environmental data needs over time.
Lockheed Martin has a long-standing history in building and deploying weather and environmental spacecraft for both civil and military agencies. With over 120 weather spacecraft launched over more than 50 years, including the revolutionary GOES-R mission, Lockheed Martin has consistently advanced the capabilities of geostationary weather observations. The GOES-R series introduced groundbreaking features such as geostationary lightning observations, wildland fire detection, and enhanced severe weather tracking, setting new standards for public, forecaster, and researcher expectations.
The final spacecraft in the current series, GOES-U, is slated for launch on June 25, 2024, from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This launch marks another milestone in Lockheed Martin’s ongoing commitment to advancing weather and environmental monitoring capabilities.
In conclusion, GeoXO represents a crucial step forward in bolstering national resilience through advanced weather forecasting and environmental monitoring, solidifying Lockheed Martin’s role as a key partner in NOAA’s mission to safeguard the nation’s safety and economy.
