NASA Selects Launch Services Contract for Three Missions

July 16, 2012

Joshua Buck
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
jbuck@nasa.gov

George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov

CONTRACT RELEASE: C12-028

NASA SELECTS LAUNCH SERVICES CONTRACT FOR THREE MISSIONS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA has selected United Launch Services LLC
of Englewood, Colo., to launch the Soil Moisture Active Passive
(SMAP), Orbiting Carbon Observatory-2 (OCO-2) and Joint Polar
Satellite System-1 (JPSS-1) spacecraft. The spacecraft will launch in
October 2014, July 2014 and November 2016, respectively, aboard Delta
II rockets from Complex 2 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.


The total value for the SMAP, OCO-2 and JPSS-1 launch services is
approximately $412 million. This estimated cost includes the
task-ordered launch service for the Delta II plus additional services
under other contracts for payload processing, launch vehicle
integration, mission-unique launch site ground support and tracking,
data and telemetry services.

SMAP will provide global measurements of soil moisture and its
freeze-thaw state. These measurements will enhance understanding of
processes that link Earth's water, energy and carbon cycles. SMAP
will extend current capabilities in weather and climate prediction.
SMAP data will be used to develop improved flood prediction and
drought monitoring capabilities. SMAP is managed by NASA's Jet
Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif.

OCO-2 will study and make time-dependent global measurements of
atmospheric carbon dioxide. It will provide the first complete
picture of human and natural carbon dioxide sources and "sinks," the
places where the gas is pulled out of the atmosphere and stored. The
observatory's high-resolution measurements will help scientists
better understand the processes that regulate atmospheric carbon
dioxide. The OCO-2 project is managed by JPL.

JPSS-1 is the successor to the Suomi-National Polar Partnership (NPP)
spacecraft, which was launched in October 2011 as a joint mission
between NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) and operated by the JPSS Program. The JPSS Program is the
former National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite
System Program. The JPSS system includes the satellite's sensors and
ground system supporting civil weather, climate measurements and data
sharing with other U.S. agencies and international partners.

JPSS-1 will make afternoon observations as it orbits Earth, providing
continuity of critical data and imagery observations for accurate
weather forecasting, reliable severe storm outlooks and global
measurements of atmospheric and oceanic conditions such as sea
surface temperatures and ozone. JPSS-1 will increase the timeliness,
accuracy and cost-effectiveness of public warnings and forecasts of
weather, climate and other environmental events, reducing the
potential loss of human life and property.

NOAA is responsible for the JPSS Program and the JPSS-1 mission. NASA
is the program's procurement agent. The agency's Goddard Space Flight
Center in Greenbelt, Md., is the lead for acquisition and
implementation.

NASA's Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center is responsible
for launch vehicle program management of the SMAP, OCO-2 and JPSS-1
launch services.

For more information about NASA and its missions, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov


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