[Satellite Today 05-08-09] The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA selected Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. to build two satellites for NOAA’s next generation geostationary satellite series, GOES-R, NOAA announced May 7.
    Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract in December but halted work after competing bidder Boeing Co. filed a protest with the U.S. Government Accountability Office. The contract award was re-evaluated by NASA and, “as a result of that process, a series of corrective actions were implemented,” NOAA said. 
    The basic contract, valued at $1.1 billion, is for two satellites with options for two additional satellites. The first launch of the GOES-R series is scheduled for 2015.
    Data from the NOAA satellites will be used for weather forecasting and environmental, space and solar science. NOAA funds, manages and will operate the GOES-R program. NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center oversees the acquisition of the GOES-R spacecraft and instruments.