WASHINGTON - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) needed a company to design and build the next-generation GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) instruments. They found their solution from Lockheed Martin in Denver.
The baseline contract is valued at approximately $297 million for two instruments with options for two additional instruments. LMX, a near-infrared optical instrument designed to detect, locate, and measure lightning flashes in near-real-time. The single-channel instrument will be deployed on NOAA's upcoming GeoXO weather satellites, providing crucial data for severe weather monitoring across the Western Hemisphere. By tracking lightning activity, the system will enhance storm analysis and forecasting, as well as aid in identifying tornado-producing storms. The instrument will also improve hurricane intensity assessments, detect lightning hazards, help identify wildfires, and assist with aviation safety.
LMX is an evolution of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), the first operational lightning tracker flown in geostationary orbit. The new instrument will offer higher spatial resolution, faster lightning detection, and a broader field of view, including coverage of Alaska. Lockheed Martin will develop and build the LMX instruments at its Sunnyvale, California facility.
"Lockheed Martin improved upon the success of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper and added game-changing technologies to the GeoXO Lightning Mapper, including an advanced imaging sensor that will potentially detect 25% more lightning pulses," said Matthew Mahlman, director of Weather, Earth Science, and Climate Intelligence at Lockheed Martin. "This advanced technology will give meteorologists a tool to create greater lead time in alerting people to severe storms and dangerous weather situations such as rapid intensifying hurricanes."
The GeoXO satellites represent NOAA’s next-generation weather system, following the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) series. The final satellite in the GOES series, GOES-U, launched on June 25, 2024, and has since been renamed GOES-19 after reaching its geostationary orbit.
In June, NASA awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to develop and build the GeoXO spacecraft for NOAA. The contract includes three spacecraft, with options for four more, bringing the total potential contract value to $2.27 billion. The first launch is slated for the early 2030s.
