DENVER, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lockheed Martin team designing NASA and NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-series (GOES-R) weather satellite has successfully completed its system Preliminary Design Review, a major milestone in the program's development. GOES-R is the nation's next generation geostationary weather satellite.

The GOES-R team will now proceed with detailed design work for the spacecraft that will lead to the Critical Design Review scheduled for early 2012.

"Through the week-long design review we showed NASA and NOAA that the preliminary system design of the GOES-R spacecraft is complete and the baseline mission requirements are clearly understood," said Amy Flanagan, program manager for GOES-R at Lockheed Martin Space Systems. "Our entire team understands the importance of this mission. We're committed to the continuity of the GOES system with our eyes on a 2015 launch of the first spacecraft in the R-series."

Data from NOAA's GOES satellites provide accurate real-time weather forecasts and early warning products to the public and private sectors. The GOES-R mission will improve forecasting quality and timeliness generating significant economic benefits to the nation in the areas of climate monitoring, ecosystems management, commerce and transportation.

NOAA funds, manages and will operate the GOES-R program. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center oversees the acquisition of the GOES-R spacecraft and instruments for NOAA.

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin is a global security company that employs about 132,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The Corporation's 2010 sales from continuing operations were $45.8 billion.

More information about GOES-R can be found at:

• http://www.goes-r.gov/
• www.lockheedmartin.com/goesr

SOURCE Lockheed Martin