Lockheed Martin Awarded GeoXO Lightning Mapper Contract to Support Forecasters with Severe Weather Monitoring
NASA has awarded Lockheed Martin a $297 million contract to design and build the next-generation GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) instruments for NOAA. The contract includes options for two additional instruments. LMX, an advanced version of the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), will be part of NOAA's GeoXO weather satellite system.
LMX will offer improved capabilities, including finer spatial resolution, faster imaging, and a wider field of view covering Alaska. It aims to detect 25% more lightning pulses, enhancing severe weather monitoring and prediction. This contract follows Lockheed Martin's recent $2.27 billion award to develop and build the GeoXO spacecraft, with the first launch planned for the early 2030s.
La NASA ha assegnato a Lockheed Martin un contratto del valore di 297 milioni di dollari per progettare e costruire i nuovi strumenti GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) per la NOAA. Il contratto prevede opzioni per ulteriori due strumenti. LMX, una versione avanzata del Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), farà parte del sistema satellitare GeoXO della NOAA.
LMX offrirà capacità migliorate, tra cui una risoluzione spaziale più fine, una imaging più rapida e un campo visivo più ampio che copre l'Alaska. Mira a rilevare il 25% in più di impulsi di fulmini, migliorando il monitoraggio e la previsione delle condizioni meteorologiche severe. Questo contratto segue l'assegnazione recente di 2,27 miliardi di dollari a Lockheed Martin per sviluppare e costruire il veicolo spaziale GeoXO, con il primo lancio previsto per l'inizio degli anni '30.
La NASA ha adjudicado a Lockheed Martin un contrato de 297 millones de dólares para diseñar y construir los próximos instrumentos GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) para la NOAA. El contrato incluye opciones para dos instrumentos adicionales. LMX, una versión avanzada del Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), formará parte del sistema de satélites meteorológicos GeoXO de la NOAA.
LMX ofrecerá capacidades mejoradas, incluyendo una resolución espacial más fina, una imagen más rápida y un campo de visión más amplio que cubre Alaska. Busca detectar un 25% más de pulsos de relámpagos, mejorando el monitoreo y la predicción de fenómenos meteorológicos severos. Este contrato sigue a la reciente adjudicación de 2.27 mil millones de dólares a Lockheed Martin para desarrollar y construir la nave espacial GeoXO, siendo el primer lanzamiento planeado para principios de la década de 2030.
NASA는 Lockheed Martin에 NOAA를 위한 차세대 GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) 기기를 설계하고 제작하기 위해 2억 9,700만 달러의 계약을 체결했습니다. 이 계약에는 두 개의 추가 기기에 대한 옵션이 포함되어 있습니다. LMX는 정지 궤도 번개 측정기(Geostationary Lightning Mapper, GLM)의 발전된 버전으로, NOAA의 GeoXO 기상 위성 시스템의 일부가 될 것입니다.
LMX는 개선된 기능을 제공하며, 더 세밀한 공간 해상도, 더 빠른 이미징, 그리고 알래스를 포함하는 더 넓은 시야각을 제공합니다. 25% 더 많은 번개 펄스를 감지할 수 있도록 목표하고 있으며, 이는 심각한 기상 모니터링 및 예측을 향상시킵니다. 이 계약은 Lockheed Martin이 GeoXO 우주선을 개발하고 제작하기 위해 최근 체결한 22억 7,000만 달러의 계약에 이어 이루어진 것이며, 첫 번째 발사는 2030년대 초로 계획되어 있습니다.
La NASA a attribué à Lockheed Martin un contrat de 297 millions de dollars pour concevoir et construire les instruments de la prochaine génération de GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) pour la NOAA. Le contrat comprend des options pour deux instruments supplémentaires. LMX, une version avancée du Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), fera partie du système de satellites météorologiques GeoXO de la NOAA.
LMX offrira des capacités améliorées, notamment une résolution spatiale plus fine, une imagerie plus rapide et un champ de vision plus large couvrant l'Alaska. Il vise à détecter 25 % de pulsations d'éclair en plus, améliorant ainsi le suivi et la prévision des conditions météorologiques sévères. Ce contrat fait suite à l'attribution récente de 2,27 milliards de dollars à Lockheed Martin pour développer et construire le vaisseau spatial GeoXO, dont le premier lancement est prévu pour le début des années 2030.
Die NASA hat Lockheed Martin einen Vertrag über 297 Millionen US-Dollar zur Planung und Konstruktion der nächsten Generation von GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX)-Instrumenten für die NOAA erteilt. Der Vertrag beinhaltet Optionen für zwei weitere Instrumente. LMX, eine fortschrittliche Version des Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM), wird Teil des GeoXO-Wettersatellitensystems der NOAA sein.
LMX wird verbesserte Fähigkeiten bieten, darunter eine feinere räumliche Auflösung, schnellere Bildgebung und ein breiteres Sichtfeld, das Alaska abdeckt. Ziel ist es, 25 % mehr Blitzimpulse zu erkennen, um die Überwachung und Vorhersage von schwerem Wetter zu verbessern. Dieser Vertrag folgt der kürzlichen Vergabe von 2,27 Milliarden US-Dollar an Lockheed Martin zur Entwicklung und Konstruktion des GeoXO-Raumschiffs, dessen erster Start für Anfang der 2030er Jahre geplant ist.
- Secured a $297 million contract for two LMX instruments with options for two more
- LMX expected to detect 25% more lightning pulses than its predecessor
- Part of a larger $2.27 billion contract for GeoXO spacecraft development
- Builds on Lockheed Martin's 50-year experience in weather and environmental spacecraft
- None.
Insights
Lockheed Martin's $297 million contract for the GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) represents a significant advancement in weather monitoring technology. The LMX's ability to detect 25% more lightning pulses than its predecessor is a game-changer for severe weather prediction. This enhanced capability could lead to more accurate and timely warnings for dangerous weather events, potentially saving lives and reducing property damage.
The contract's potential value of up to
The LMX's improvements over the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) are substantial. The finer spatial resolution and faster imaging of lightning activity will provide meteorologists with more detailed and timely data. This could significantly enhance our ability to predict and track severe weather events, particularly rapid-intensifying hurricanes and tornado-producing storms.
The expanded coverage to include Alaska is also noteworthy, as it fills a critical gap in current weather monitoring systems. These advancements could lead to more accurate weather forecasts and potentially extend warning times for severe weather events, which is important for public safety and emergency preparedness.
This contract strengthens Lockheed Martin's position in the lucrative government contract sector. The baseline value of $297 million for two instruments, with options for two more, represents a significant revenue boost for the company's Space division. Moreover, this contract follows the larger
Investors should note that these long-term contracts provide stable, predictable revenue streams, which can be attractive in uncertain economic times. The company's 50-year history in weather and environmental spacecraft also suggests a strong competitive moat in this specialized field, potentially leading to more contracts in the future.
Next-Generation GeoXO Lightning Mapper enhances capabilities of NOAA's next-generation weather satellite system
![An improvement from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) seen here, the GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) will be used to detect, locate and measure lightning flashes. [credit NASA]](https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2508818/Lockheed_Martin_GeoXO_Lightning_Mapper_NASA.jpg "An improvement from the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) seen here, the GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) will be used to detect, locate and measure lightning flashes. [credit NASA]")
The Capabilities
LMX is a single-channel, near-infrared optical instrument developed specifically to detect, locate, and measure the intensity, duration and extent of lightning flashes in near-real-time.
The LMX instrument detects and measures lightning flashes while onboard NOAA's next-generation GeoXO weather satellites. This lightning data will provide persistent severe weather observations of the Western Hemisphere, improving storm analysis and prediction, and aiding the detection of tornado-producing storms. The imagers will improve hurricane intensity calculations, lightning hazard detection, wildfire ignition detection and aviation threat avoidance.
LMX builds on the work of the first operational lightning mapper flown in geostationary orbit — the Lockheed Martin-built Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM). Specifically, LMX will improve on GLM with finer spatial resolution and faster imaging of lightning activity, in addition to a wider field of view of the Western Hemisphere, which will now include Alaska. Lockheed Martin will develop and build the LMX instruments at its
"Lockheed Martin improved upon the success of the Geostationary Lighting Mapper and added game-changing technologies to the GeoXO Lightning Mapper, including an advanced imaging sensor that will potentially detect
Building on Success
The GeoXO weather satellite system is NOAA's next generation of satellites following the successful Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) series – the last of which, GOES-U, launched on June 25, 2024. That satellite is now in geostationary orbit undergoing on-orbit checkout and verification and is has been renamed GOES-19.
In June, NASA awarded Lockheed Martin a contract to develop and build the GeoXO spacecraft, for NOAA. The baseline contract is for three spacecraft with options for four additional spacecraft. The total estimated value of the contract including options is
For over 50 years, Lockheed Martin has designed and built more than 120 weather and environmental spacecraft, and many Earth observation instruments for civil government, military and commercial applications. These one-of-a-kind instruments include the Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) – which is flying on the GOES-R series satellites – as well the as the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS) and James Webb Space Telescope's primary infrared imager, NIRCam.
About Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at Lockheedmartin.com.
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