NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has selected the Applied Physics Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University in Laurel, Maryland, to build the superthermal ion sensor for the Lagrange 1 Series project, part of NOAA’s Space Weather Next program.
This cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is valued at approximately $20.5 million and includes the development of two superthermal ion sensor devices. The estimated period of performance for this contract will run through January 31, 2034. The work will take place at the award-winning facility in Maryland, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The scope of the contract includes the design, analysis, development, fabrication, integration, test, verification and evaluation of superthermal ion sensor instruments, launch support, supply and maintenance of ground support equipment, and support of post-launch mission operations on the NOAA satellite . Operational convenience.
The suprathermal ion sensors will provide critical data to NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which issues forecasts, warnings and alerts that help mitigate the effects of space weather, including power outages and disruptions to communications and navigation systems. .
The instruments will measure suprathermal ions and electrons across a wide range of energies, and provide real-time, continuous observations to ensure early warning of various space weather impacts. They will also monitor ions to characterize solar ejections, including coronal mass ejections, co-rotating contact regions, and interplanetary shocks. Analysis of these spectra helps to estimate the arrival time and strength of solar wind shocks.
NASA and NOAA oversee the development, launch, testing, and operation of all satellites in the L1 series project. NOAA owns the program, provides funding and manages the program, operations, and dissemination of data products and users. NASA and commercial partners develop, build, and launch instruments and spacecraft on behalf of NOAA.
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