Harris Corporation Completes Major Review For GOES-R Satellite Ground Segment Contract

Harris Corporation, an international communications and information technology company, successfully completed the first milestone in a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) program that will process 40 times more data than is possible today, and deliver weather images to more than 10,000 direct users.

The Systems Requirements Review of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite -- Series R Ground Segment (GOES-R GS) program was completed recently in Melbourne, Florida. The review ensures the system's functional and performance requirements and its preliminary program plan satisfy the GOES-R mission.

The ground segment of the GOES-R program encompasses receiving and processing of satellite data, generating and distributing of products from satellite data, and command and control of operational satellites. Harris is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the 10-year, potential $736M contract.

"This milestone establishes a common understanding of all of the requirements the GOES-R ground segment must meet during development, deployment and operation," said Ray Thorpe, vice president of GOES-R programs at Harris Government Communications Systems. "The successful completion of this review brings us one step closer to fielding a weather prediction system that will give forecasters an unprecedented edge when dealing with dangerous weather conditions."

Today's GOES satellites provide the images and time-lapse sequences familiar to most Americans in television weather forecasts. They are the primary tool used by NOAA to detect and track hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes and other severe weather in the continental U.S. and western hemisphere.

The next-generation GOES-R system will provide significantly improved image resolution. It will increase the rate of imagery coverage of earth surfaces from every 30 minutes to every five minutes in normal conditions -- and every 30 seconds during severe weather events.

Members of the Harris GOES-R GS team include Atmospheric and Environmental Research Inc., Boeing Mission Systems, Carr Astronautics, Honeywell Technology Solutions, Wyle Information Systems LLC, and Applied Research and Engineering Sciences. The team is providing a service-based, open-architecture solution to accommodate the anticipated 40-times increase in data to be taken in, processed and distributed to more than 10,000 direct users. The first launch of a GOES-R series satellite is scheduled for 2015.

Harris is a recognized leader in satellite ground data processing and mission command-and-control systems. The company's ground data processing systems consist of complex suites of hardware and software that receive sensor data from satellites, turning it into useable information. The company's command-and- control systems feature commercial-off-the-shelf design and high levels of flexibility. Designed for government and commercial applications, they support single-satellite missions, as well as some of the largest and most complex satellite fleets deployed today.

About Harris Corporation
Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has approximately $5B of annual revenue and more than 15,000 employees -- including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications; products, systems, and services. For more information visit www.harris.com.

SOURCE: Harris Corporation