New sensor will provide weather data to forecasters every 30 seconds versus 7 minutes
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — (BUSINESS WIRE) — November 1, 2013 — Exelis (NYSE: XLS) has completed the primary payload for the future Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R) weather satellite. The Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI), which provides high-resolution imagery of environmental conditions, will be transported in January to Denver where it will be integrated into its GOES-R satellite for a scheduled 2016 launch.
“The ABI is the foundation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) whole severe weather forecasting capability,” said Eric Webster, vice president of the Exelis Geospatial Systems weather business area. “We’ve finished it and it is ready for integration into the satellite. This is a huge milestone in a $10 billion program.”
The ABI is part of the next generation GOES-R Series Program jointly managed by NASA and NOAA. Developed out of Exelis core competencies in weather and image science, ABI technology reflects the company’s focus and expertise in the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and analytics area of the company.
The GOES-R series of satellites will be positioned 22,300 miles above the earth providing 24-hour-a-day coverage of the Western Hemisphere with visible and infrared imagery. The National Weather Service relies on data from NOAA’s geosynchronous satellites to accurately forecast and monitor severe weather like tornadoes and hurricanes, providing the very images people see on television and Internet reports. NOAA estimates the GOES-R Series Program will save $4.6 billion in economic losses due to improved forecasts and information. In addition, improvements will be made to products used for monitoring rainfall precipitation, wildfires and volcanic ash.
“Given the impacts of severe storms in terms of loss of life, property damage and effects on the economy, better forecasts aren't just a goal but a necessity," Webster said. "Forecasters need better information and tools to improve the accuracy and lead time of severe storms. Completing the ABI moves NOAA one step closer to providing significant improvements to all aspects of severe weather forecasts: better insight into the makeup of the storm, higher-resolution images and data five times faster than today's capability.”
Exelis has built every imager and sounder payload for NOAA’s GOES satellites since 1994 and was awarded the contract to build the ABI instruments in 2004. Exelis is also on contract to build four ABI instruments for NOAA and NASA, two for Japan and one for South Korea. In total, Exelis has built more than 60 meteorological payloads for the U.S. government and international customers during the past 40 years.
About Exelis
Exelis is a diversified, top-tier global aerospace, defense, information and services company that leverages a 50-year legacy of deep customer knowledge and technical expertise to deliver affordable, mission-critical solutions for global customers. We are a leader in critical networks, ISR and analytics, electronic warfare, navigation, sensors, air traffic solutions, communications and information systems and have strong positions in composite aerostructures, logistics and technical services. Headquartered in McLean, Va., the company employs about 19,000 people and generated 2012 sales of $5.5 billion. For more information, visit our website at www.exelisinc.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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