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Lockheed Martin gets weather-satellite work

By Roger Fillion, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published December 2, 2008 at 3:19 p.m.

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Drawing of GOES-R weather satellite

Photo by Lockheed Martin Space Systems

Drawing of GOES-R weather satellite

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Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Jefferson County has won a $1.1 billion contract to develop and build a constellation of next-generation weather-observation satellites for Uncle Sam.

NASA announced the so-called GOES-R contract Tuesday. It calls for up to four satellites that are expected to generate 50 times more weather and climate data than the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's existing fleet of weather satellites.

Lockheed Martin beat Boeing Co. and Northrop Grumman Corp. for the deal. It's expected to give Colorado's aerospace industry a fresh shot in the arm through the creation of at least 50 jobs.

In May, Lockheed Martin Space Systems beat Boeing for a contract worth up to $3.6 billion to design and build up to a dozen next-generation military navigational satellites for the Air Force. The award is expected to create dozens of jobs here over time.

Such news has spurred economists and industry officials to suggest that Colorado's aerospace industry will weather the recession better than other sectors.

The GOES-R contract is considered the last big U.S. government satellite project to be awarded before President-elect Barack Obama's administration possibly revamps the government's satellite policies.

The satellites will provide weather data and information for public, private and military use. The resulting images will be like those typically seen on TV weather forecasts.

"When you Google the weather, you will see weather and weather data from these satellites," said Amy Flanagan, Lockheed Martin's GOES-R program manager.

She said the satellites are expected to provide "much more rapid and accurate" warnings about severe weather, including tornadoes.

Lockheed Martin will perform the work at various locations, including its Waterton Canyon campus in Jefferson County; Newtown, Pa.; and Sunnyvale, Calif.

Lockheed Martin spokesman Gary Napier said the company expects to add about 100 employees next year, with the jobs split 50-50 between Jefferson County and Newtown.

An additional 100 jobs are expected to be added in 2010, although the geographic breakdown of the jobs hasn't been determined.

The basic GOES-R contract calls for two spacecraft. Two options each provide for one additional satellite.

Raytheon Co.'s Aurora campus is competing to work on the ground system that would control the GOES-R satellites.

NASA said the first launch of the GOES-R series is scheduled for 2015.

fillionr@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2467

GOES-R satellite contract

* Winner: Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Jefferson County

* Value: $1.1 billion

* The job: Build up to four weather-observation satellites for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's weather satellite program

* Local impact: At least 50 jobs expected to be created here

* Other companies competing for the contract: Boeing, Northrop Grumman

* Notable quote: "GOES-R, with its highly advanced instruments and sensors, will provide about 50 times more weather and climate data than is available with NOAA's current fleet of geostationary satellites." - Mary Kicza, assistant administrator for NOAA Satellite and Information Service