Raytheon wins two NASA satellite systems awards worth $1.7 billion

Raytheon Co. has won two NASA contracts for satellite systems and infrared imaging technology support that have a combined potential value of more than $1.7 billion over eight years.

These contracts were awarded by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and replace previous government awards worth approximately $1.4 billion, according to a Raytheon announcement released today.

The contracts are specifically designated for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Joint Polar Satellite System, which includes satellites and sensors for next-generation civil weather and climate measurements.

JPSS is the successor to the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System.

The program was created earlier this year when the federal government restructured NPOESS into a civilian portion, JPSS, and a defense portion, the Defense Weather Satellite System, or DWSS, according to the statement.

The JPSS Common Ground System award covers development of the command, control and communications segment; the interface data processing segment; operations and support; and system maintenance.

The contract will result in uninterrupted support for both civilian and defense weather needs, Lynn Dugle, president of Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems, said in the statement.

“It allows Raytheon to continue the development and evolution of the ground system into an exceptional operational program for JPSS and DWSS,” Dugle said.

The second JPSS contract covers the completion of the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite, or VIIRS, which provides advanced imaging and radiometric capabilities.

"The experience we gained building the first VIIRS instrument has led to efficiencies in the development of the second flight unit," said Bill Hart, vice president of Space Systems within Raytheon’s Space and Airborne Systems business unit, in the statement.

Raytheon Co., of Waltham, Mass., ranks No. 4 on Washington Technology’s 2010 Top 100 list of the largest federal government contractors.