AURORA, Colo., Sept. 30 (UPI) -- NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has awarded the Raytheon Co. two contracts with a combined potential value of more than $1.7 billion.
The contracts, which extend to 2018, support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Joint Polar Satellite System, the company announced Thursday.
Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems President Lynn Dugle said: "The award of the Joint Polar Satellite System Common Ground System enables uninterrupted support to meet both civilian and defense weather needs. It allows Raytheon to continue the development and evolution of the ground system into an exceptional operational program for Joint Polar Satellite System and Defense Weather Satellite System."
NASA also awarded Raytheon a separate Joint Polar Satellite System contract to complete work on its Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite.
Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems Vice President Bill Hart said: "The experience we gained building the first VIIRS instrument has led to efficiencies in the development of the second flight unit. Development work on the second VIIRS flight unit is progressing consistent with the current funding profile."
