NASA has awarded a sole source contract modification to Exelis, Inc., Geospatial Systems, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, for the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) Instrument for flight on the Joint Polar Satellite System-2 (JPSS-2) mission.

This is a cost-plus-award-fee modification in the amount of $221 million. This action extends the period of performance of the contract from November 2018 through May 2021.

The JPSS-2 mission is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide global environmental data in low-Earth polar orbit in support of NOAA's mission.

NASA is the acquisition agent for the flight systems and some components of the ground system.

Under this contract, Exelis, Inc. Geospatial Systems will manufacture, test and deliver the CrIS instrument, support instrument integration on the JPSS-2 spacecraft and provide launch and post-launch support.

The CrIS instrument will be similar to the CrIS currently flying on the Suomi NPP Mission and planned for the JPSS-1 mission. JPSS-1 is being planned for launch in 2017 and JPSS-2 in 2021.

CrIS is a high-spectral resolution infrared instrument that will measure atmospheric temperature, water vapor and trace gases.

NOAA forecasters will use this data in computer models to improve global and regional predictions of weather patterns, storm tracks and precipitation. This information will significantly improve short- and long-term weather forecasting.