Lockheed Martin Awarded GeoXO Lightning Mapper Contract to Support Forecasters with Severe Weather Monitoring

Rhea-AI Summary

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.

Positive

• 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

Negative

• None.

Insights

Space Technology Analyst

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 $594 million for four instruments indicates a long-term commitment to this technology. This, coupled with the $2.27 billion GeoXO spacecraft contract, positions Lockheed Martin as a dominant player in the weather satellite market. For investors, this signals a stable revenue stream and potential for growth in the company's space technology division.

Meteorology Expert

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.

Financial Analyst

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 $2.27 billion GeoXO spacecraft contract awarded in June, indicating a strong relationship with NASA and NOAA.

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

DENVER, Sept. 18, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA has awarded Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) a contract to design and build the next-generation GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) instruments for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The baseline contract is valued at approximately $297 million for two instruments with options for two additional instruments.

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 Sunnyvale, California, facility.

"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 25% more lightning pulses," said Matthew Mahlman, director of Weather, Earth Science and Climate Intelligence at Lockheed Martin. "This advanced technology will give meteorologists a tool to create greater lead time in alerting people to severe storms and dangerous weather situations such as rapid intensifying hurricanes." 

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 $2.27 billion and first launch is planned for the early 2030s.

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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SOURCE Lockheed Martin

FAQ

What is the value of Lockheed Martin's GeoXO Lightning Mapper contract?

The baseline contract for Lockheed Martin (LMT) to design and build two GeoXO Lightning Mapper instruments is valued at approximately $297 million, with options for two additional instruments.

How does the GeoXO Lightning Mapper (LMX) improve upon its predecessor?

The LMX improves upon the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) with finer spatial resolution, faster imaging of lightning activity, a wider field of view including Alaska, and the potential to detect 25% more lightning pulses.

When is the first GeoXO satellite expected to launch?

The first launch of the GeoXO satellite system, which will include the LMX instrument, is planned for the early 2030s.

What are the main benefits of the LMX for weather forecasting?

The LMX will provide persistent severe weather observations, improve storm analysis and prediction, aid in detecting tornado-producing storms, enhance hurricane intensity calculations, and improve lightning hazard and wildfire ignition detection.