The U.S. Air Force has awarded Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] a $30 million contract for the development phase of the Self-Awareness Space Situational Awareness (SASSA) technology demonstration program.
Under this contract, Lockheed Martin will develop a technology demonstration payload to provide tactical space situational awareness with dedicated communications. The surveillance system will increase critical awareness of threats to U.S. satellites. Plus, it will demo the capability to control and manage as many as eight instruments for operational systems implementation. The Space Superiority Systems Wing of the Air Force’s Space and Missile Systems Center, Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif. initiated the program after recognizing an emerging need to protect vital defense satellite systems that ensure national security. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is one of two companies selected for the two year development phase resulting in a downselect for spacecraft integration and on-orbit operations based on technical, cost and schedule performance that is scheduled to run through 2011, with options for 2012 and 2013.
