In a significant boost to the United States’ weather forecasting capabilities, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has awarded Lockheed Martin a substantial contract to develop the next generation of geostationary weather satellites. Known as Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO), this new constellation will build on the legacy of the current GOES-R series, also developed by Lockheed Martin, with a baseline contract for three spacecraft and options for four additional ones. The total value of the contract, if all options are exercised, stands at an impressive $2.27 billion.

The GeoXO satellites will enhance and expand upon the critical weather observation capabilities currently provided by the GOES-R satellites. These advancements will not only improve weather forecasting accuracy but also extend observational powers to marine ecosystems and air quality monitoring, thus addressing both longstanding and emerging environmental challenges. Such capabilities are crucial for bolstering national resilience against environmental threats.

Kyle Griffin, Vice President and General Manager of Commercial Civil Time at Lockheed Martin, expressed enthusiasm about moving forward with the project, emphasizing that the GeoXO design leverages decades of satellite development experience while integrating modern digital technologies.

The GeoXO constellation will play a pivotal role in enhancing the United States’ ability to monitor severe weather conditions, marine ecosystems, and air quality—all vital for preparing and responding to climate-related incidents. With innovative onboard instruments, these satellites will provide first-time geostatic observations of coastal ecosystems, detailed atmospheric soundings, enhanced lightning detection, and comprehensive air pollution monitoring across the continental U.S.

With the first launch planned for the early 2030s, the GeoXO program is set to extend America’s capability in geostationary weather observation through the late 2050s. Based on Lockheed Martin’s updated LM2100™ satellite bus, which includes SmartSat™ technology, the satellites can adapt to changing environmental data needs, underscoring the dynamic nature of the mission.

Lockheed Martin’s longstanding history in the aerospace sector is marked by over half a century of contributions, having launched more than 120 weather and environmental satellites for various civil and military uses. The anticipated launch of the fourth GOES-R series satellite, GOES-U, later this month, underscores the ongoing commitment to advancing U.S. weather forecasting technology.

  environmental monitoring, GeoXO satellites, Lockheed Martin, NOAA, Satellite Technology, weather forecasting