NASA, on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has selected Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, to build three coronagraphs for the Lagrange 1 Series Project, part of NOAA’s Space Weather Next program.
Once operational, the coronagraph 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. The system is involved in interruptions.
This cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is valued at approximately $60 million, and the estimated duration of performance is from this November to January 2034, ending after the launch of the second coronagraph on a NOAA spacecraft. The third coronagraph will be delivered as a flight spare.
This contract award marks the transfer of chronograph development from the government to the US commercial sector. The scope of the contract includes design, analysis, development, manufacturing, integration, testing, validation and evaluation of the coronagraph; launch support; Supply and maintenance of ground support equipment; and post-launch instrument operations support at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility. The work will take place at the Southwest Research Institute facility in San Antonio.
The coronagraph will observe the density structure of the Sun’s outermost atmosphere – the corona – and detect Earth-directed coronal mass emission shortly after the eruption, providing the longest possible lead time for geomagnetic storm watches. With this early warning, public and private organizations affected by space weather can take action to protect their assets. The coronagraphs will also provide data continuity from the space weather follow-on Lagrange 1 mission.
NASA and NOAA oversee the development, launch, testing, and operation of all satellites in the project. NOAA owns the program and provides requirements and funding, along with managing the program, operations, data products, and dissemination to users. NASA and its commercial partners develop and manufacture instruments, spacecraft, and provide launch services on behalf of NOAA.
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