Johns Hopkins selected to make Suprathermal Ion Sensors for NOAA space weather program
WASHINGTON - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has selected Johns Hopkins University’s Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Md., to develop Suprathermal Ion Sensors for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Lagrange 1 (L1) Series project, part of NOAA’s Space Weather Next Program.
The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract is valued at approximately $20.5 million and covers the design and development of two sensors. Work under the contract is expected to continue through 31 Jan. 2034, at facilities in Maryland, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md., and Kennedy Space Center in Fla.
The scope of work includes designing, fabricating, integrating, and testing the instruments, along with ground support equipment. The contract also includes launch support and post-launch mission operations at NOAA’s Satellite Operations Facility.
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The Suprathermal Ion Sensors will provide critical data for NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, which issues forecasts, warnings, and alerts to mitigate the impacts of space weather events. These include disruptions to power grids, communication systems, and navigation networks.
The instruments will measure ions and electrons across a wide energy range, delivering continuous, real-time observations to aid in early detection of space weather events. They will also track solar phenomena such as coronal mass ejections, co-rotating interaction regions, and interplanetary shocks. This data will help estimate the arrival time and intensity of solar wind shocks.
NOAA manages the overall program, including funding, operations, and data dissemination. NASA oversees the development, launch, and testing of the instruments and spacecraft in collaboration with commercial partners.
The L1 Series is part of NOAA’s efforts to enhance the nation’s ability to monitor and respond to space weather threats.
