 WASHINGTON, DC (ENS)
- A $4.5 billion contract has been awarded to TRW Inc. to build and deploy
the nation's future environmental satellite system, using both military
and civilian satellites.
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- The contract is for the acquisition and operations phases
of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
(NPOESS). NPOESS will combine the nation's military and civilian environmental
satellite programs into a single national system that will improve weather
forecasting and climate prediction.
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- "By working together on this advanced satellite
system, the three agencies will make the nation's environmental satellite
system more efficient, cost effective and more responsive to our country's
environmental information needs," said National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Conrad Lautenbacher. "This
new system will provide vital information about our weather, environment,
climate and oceans. In addition, our integrated effort is expected to result
in taxpayers saving approximately $1.6 billion over the NPOESS lifetime."
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- An artist's rendition of the National Polar-orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite System or NPOESS. (Photo courtesy NOAA)
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- TRW will develop, fabricate and deliver the NPOESS satellite
and ground systems as well as provide launch support, operations and support
services for the system. The federal program office will provide funding,
define requirements, participate in instrument development teams and executive
reviews.
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- "This effort ultimately means the war fighter is
receiving higher quality data sooner, and we're doing it with very significant
cost savings, "said Peter Teets, undersecretary of the Air Force.
"This is an example of getting our acquisition programs back on track
and saving valuable defense dollars wherever we can."
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- NOAA has overall responsibility for the converged system,
as well as satellite operations and interactions with the civil and international
user communities. The Department of Defense has the lead responsibility
for major systems acquisitions, including launch support.
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- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
has primary responsibility for facilitating the development and incorporation
of new cost effective technologies into the converged system.
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- More information on the NPOESS program is available at:
<http://www.ipo.noaa.gov/>http://www.ipo.noaa.gov/
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- http://ens-news.com/ens/aug2002/2002-08-26-09.asp#anchor1
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