Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) has won a $68 million contract to provide space vehicle launch support services to the U.S. Air Force, the company announced Thursday.
The Bethesda, Md.-based defense and technology firm will provide mission readiness, launch, early orbit checkout and on-orbit operations engineering for the Air Force’s first two GPS III satellites.
Lockheed will provide the Air Force’s 2nd Space Operations Squadron with technical support and will monitor the satellite’s health and performance.
According to the company, the first GPS III is on schedule to be launched in 2014 and the second satellite’s launch is scheduled for 2015.
Support services will start at satellite launch and last through the satellites’ 15-year operational design lives.
The company’s Newtown, Pa. facility will conduct launch and checkout functionality tests prior to the first satellite’s 2014 launch.
