TMCnet News
ATK Receives Study Contract from USAF Network Centric Weather Satellite ProgramJan 10, 2013 (Close-Up Media via COMTEX) -- ATK announced it was awarded a contract from the U.S. Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center (SMC) Defense Weather Systems Directorate to execute a study of Network-Centric Small Satellites as an element of SMC's Weather Satellite Follow-On Activities. According to a release, this study will provide insight into the capabilities and characteristics of a 21st century weather data service that can systematically augment the legacy Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). The study will focus on two aspects of such a mission system: 1) net-centric architectures, and; 2) small, agile heritage spacecraft buses that can be used to support a variety of future weather payloads. Net-centric architectures can enable an orderly transition from historically stove-piped systems to a true 21st century system that provides for rapid processing and dissemination of key weather data directly to the warfighter. Systems engineering trade studies will define a distributed ground system that utilizes commercial infrastructure to the greatest extent possible. "ATK is delighted to have this opportunity to play a key role with Space and Missile Systems Center in an early exploration of disaggregated, affordable, resilient architectures," said Tom Wilson, ATK Space Systems vice president and general manager. "We support the U.S. Air Force Space Command and SMC Space Modernization Initiative that could change the future of military space systems." More information: www.atk.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected])) |