Nasa has awarded a sole source contract modification to US-based company Northrop Grumman for two advanced technology microwave sounder (ATMS) instruments, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The instruments are to be used in NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Polar Follow On / JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 missions.
The total value of the new cost-plus-award-fee modification contract has been increased from approximately $213m to roughly $390m. The deal has also increased the period of performance to 18 months after the launch of JPSS-4.
Under the deal, Northrop Grumman will manufacture, test and deliver the ATMS instruments, support instrument integration on the spacecraft, and provide launch and post-launch support.
ATMS instruments are currently flying on the NOAA/Nasa Suomi-NPP mission.
A passive microwave instrument, ATMS works in combination with the Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) to produce global atmospheric vertical temperature and moisture profiles.
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By GlobalDataThe instrument also provides spatial resolution microwave temperature and humidity sounding data in all conditions such as cloud cover and NOAA use these data in computer models to enhance global and regional predictions of weather patterns, storm tracks and precipitation.
Data provided by ATMS also said to improve short-term and long-term weather forecasting.
Nasa acts as an acquisition agent for the flight systems and components for JPSS’ ground segment.
In 2012, the space agency awarded the ATMS contract to Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems.
