June 27, 2017 – Landsat Multi-Mission Operations Contractor Selected

By Landsat Missions

USGS and NASA are celebrating a significant milestone after selecting General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) to combine the flight operations of Landsat 8 and Landsat 9.

The 10 year $155 million contract not only allows GDMS to assume Landsat 8 flight operations, but to also work on the development of Landsat 9 flight operations after its scheduled launch in late 2020.

Jim Nelson, the Landsat 9 Project Manager commented that, “This really is a turning point in the Landsat program in terms of multi-mission operations. The big thing we’re doing by combining contracts is, we’re combining the systems, combining the teams, and moving to a point where we can efficiently operate Landsat as a program instead of as unique missions.”

GDSM is not new to Landsat; they were part of the Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM), or Landsat 8, development process as well.

The official contract announcement can be found on FedBizOpps.