AURORA, Colo., Sept. 30, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) was awarded two contracts with a combined potential value of more than $1.7 billion over the next eight years by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.  

These contracts, replacing previous government contracts worth approximately $1.4 billion, were awarded by NASA on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the Joint Polar Satellite System, successor to the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System program.

JPSS includes satellites and sensors supporting next-generation civil weather and climate measurements. The program was created earlier this year when the U.S. government restructured NPOESS into a civilian portion, JPSS, and a defense portion, the Defense Weather Satellite System (DWSS).

"The award of the JPSS Common Ground System enables uninterrupted support to meet both civilian and defense weather needs," said Lynn Dugle, president of Raytheon Intelligence and Information Systems. "It allows Raytheon to continue the development and evolution of the ground system into an exceptional operational program for JPSS and DWSS."

NASA also awarded Raytheon a separate JPSS contract to complete work on the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite. The JPSS contract replaces the NPOESS contract for the final integration of the first flight unit and the remaining efforts for two additional sensors. The initial VIIRS instrument was provided after comprehensive sensor qualification testing under the original NPOESS contract.

"The experience we gained building the first VIIRS instrument has led to efficiencies in the development of the second flight unit," said Bill Hart, vice president, Space Systems, for Raytheon's Space and Airborne Systems business. "Development work on the second VIIRS flight unit is progressing consistent with the current funding profile."

The JPSS Common Ground System award covers development of the command, control and communications segment; the interface data processing segment; operations and support; and system maintenance.

For more than 40 years, Raytheon has developed and deployed innovative space-related technologies and solutions for NASA, including robotics, sensors, control systems and training programs.

Raytheon Company, with 2009 sales of $25 billion, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, homeland security and other government markets throughout the world. With a history of innovation spanning 88 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems, as well as a broad range of mission support services. With headquarters in Waltham, Mass., Raytheon employs 75,000 people worldwide.

www.raytheon.com

SOURCE Raytheon Company