Harris Corporation has completed the systems requirement review for the geostationary operational environmental satellite – series R ground segment (GOES-R GS) programme.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) GOES constellation detects and tracks hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes and other severe weather in the continental US and the western hemisphere.

The GOES-R system will provide improved image resolution and an increased rate of coverage of earth surfaces from every 30 minutes to every five minutes under normal conditions and every 30 seconds in severe weather.

The GOES-R ground segment will receive and process satellite data, generate and distribute products from the data, and command and control operational satellites.

The systems requirement review ensures the system’s functional and performance requirements and its preliminary programme plan satisfy the GOES-R mission.

Harris is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the ten-year, potential $736m contract.

The first launch of a GOES-R series satellite is scheduled for 2015.