NASA Selects SpaceX for NOAA’s JPSS-4 Mission Launch

On behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA selects SpaceX to provide launch services for the JPSS-4 mission. This mission is part of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program, a collaborative effort between NASA and NOAA. The program started with the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership and continues to expand with the JPSS-4 satellite.

Contract Details

The contract awarded to SpaceX is a firm fixed price agreement valued at approximately $112.7 million. This cost covers launch services and other mission-related expenses. The JPSS-4 mission is scheduled to launch in 2027 from Space Launch Complex 4 East at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.

JPSS Program Overview

The JPSS constellation collects global multi-spectral radiometry and specialised meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-geophysical data through remote sensing of land, sea, and atmospheric properties. This data is crucial for NOAA’s continuous observation of Earth’s environment, helping to understand and predict changes in weather, climate, oceans, and coasts. These observations support the economy and help protect lives and property. NASA utilises the instruments aboard JPSS satellites to further decades of Earth science research for the benefit of humanity.

When launched, JPSS-4 will include the NASA Earth Venture mission Libera. This instrument will enhance our understanding of Earth’s energy imbalance and the changing climate.

Mission Management

NASA’s Launch Services Program at Kennedy Space Center in Florida is responsible for managing the launch services. The JPSS Flight Projects Office at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, oversees the acquisition of the JPSS series instruments and spacecraft. The JPSS Program is managed by a collaborative team from NOAA and NASA.