New sensors to improve frequency and quality of
imagery
EL SEGUNDO, Calif.,
June 13,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon, an RTX (NYSE:
RTX) business, was awarded a $506
million contract from NASA to design and build the Landsat
Next Instrument Suite (LandIS), which includes three next
generation space instruments, with an option for an additional
instrument.
The instrument suite will perform Earth observation from three
identical observatories from Low-Earth orbit. Through multispectral
imaging technology, LandIS will collect images of the Earth's
surface every six days, detecting natural and human-induced
changes.
"The next-generation instruments for Landsat Next will ensure
continuity of the longest space-based record of Earth's land
surface," said Sandy Brown, vice
president for Mission Solutions & Payloads for Raytheon. "With
up to three times the spatial, temporal, and spectral resolution of
its predecessor, the imagers will enhance data collection to
improve awareness of water quality, crop production, soil
conservation, forest management, mineral mapping, and climate
change impacts."
Data from Landsat Next and the LandIS sensors will offer
critical information about land use, crop production, weather
activities, and natural resources. The next generation instrument
will help to identify patterns that may have been missed in prior
missions due to timing of image collection or image fidelity,
helping agencies to respond to natural disasters, human migration,
and environmental disasters.
Since the 1970s, Raytheon has supported the Landsat mission. In
1972, the company built the Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS), launched
on the Earth Resources Technology Satellite, later renamed Landsat
1. In addition, Raytheon built the instruments for Landsat
missions 2 through 7.
The first LandIS sensor is expected be delivered in 2028. Work
on this contract will be performed in El
Segundo, California.
About Raytheon
Raytheon, an RTX business, is a leading provider of defense
solutions to help the U.S. government, our allies and partners
defend their national sovereignty and ensure their security. For
more than 100 years, Raytheon has developed new technologies and
enhanced existing capabilities in integrated air and missile
defense, smart weapons, missiles, advanced sensors and radars,
interceptors, space-based systems, hypersonics and missile defense
across land, air, sea and space.
About RTX
With more than 185,000 global employees, RTX pushes the limits of
technology and science to redefine how we connect and protect our
world. Through industry-leading businesses – Collins Aerospace,
Pratt & Whitney, and Raytheon – we are advancing aviation,
engineering integrated defense systems, and developing
next-generation technology solutions and manufacturing to help
global customers address their most critical challenges. The
company, with 2023 sales of $69
billion, is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.
For questions or to schedule an interview, please contact
corporatepr@rtx.com
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