NASA has awarded a $20.5 million contract to the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) for the development of suprathermal ion sensors as part of the Space Weather Next program by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The contract includes the design, fabrication, integration, and testing of two suprathermal ion sensor instruments, with a project timeline extending until January 31, 2034. APL will conduct work at its Maryland facilities, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, and Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The scope also includes launch support, ground equipment maintenance, and post-launch operational support at NOAA's satellite operations facilities.
These instruments are designed to measure suprathermal ions and electrons across a wide energy spectrum, providing continuous monitoring capabilities. The data collected will assist NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center in forecasting and mitigating space weather disturbances that impact electrical grids, communications, and navigation systems.
Additionally, the sensors will analyze solar ejections, such as coronal mass ejections and interplanetary shocks, to predict their arrival times and potential impacts on Earth.
NOAA will oversee the funding, management, and operational responsibilities of the program, including data dissemination. NASA, in collaboration with its commercial partners, is responsible for the development, launch, and deployment of the spacecraft and instruments.