Engineers test cameras on the top of the Mars 2020 rover’s mast and front chassis. The image was taken July 23, 2019, in the Spacecraft Assembly Facility’s High Bay 1 at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. Image: NASA
Raytheon has announced it will develop new space systems and flight software, and provide engineering, training and operational support for NASA‘s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of a $150 million contract.
The 5-year contract could potentially be worth $300 million over 10 years if all options are exercised.
And though the contract is new, Raytheon has supported JPL — which is managed by California Institute of Technology — since the 1960s when the company developed the Mars Infrared Radiometer for the Mariner missions.
Currently, the company manages the lab’s data systems, testing and developing software and provides on-call technical support during critical events such as Mars rover landings. As part of the new contract, Raytheon will also begin supporting classified missions.
Dave Wajsgras, Raytheon
“JPL’s pioneering spacecraft and rovers have led to groundbreaking discoveries of our solar system and beyond,” said Dave Wajsgras, president of Raytheon Intelligence, Information and Services. “This is an incredible opportunity to continue enabling the future of space exploration.”
In addition to supporting JPL, Raytheon IIS manages several space programs for the U.S. government, including the Neutral Buoyancy Lab — a 6.2 million gallon pool at NASA Johnson Space Center where astronauts train on a submerged full-size model of the International Space Station.
Work for the new contract with JPL is expected to begin this month.
