By Doug Cameron
The Pentagon on Monday awarded Lockheed Martin Corp. a $915
million contract for the first phase of its Space Fence that would
track more of the fast-growing field of debris in space that
threatens to disable or destroy satellites and manned
spacecraft.
Lockheed, which fended of competition from Raytheon Corp., will
build a powerful radar system intended to quintuple the amount of
space junk the U.S. can monitor, and enable officials to warn
satellite operators to move their spacecraft before possible
collisions.
The contract to build a radar station on an atoll in the
Marshall Islands is highly prized as Pentagon budget pressures have
reduced the number of new military projects, with the winner able
to stake a better claim for follow-on business, such as a second
station in Australia.
Lockheed and Raytheon cooperate on programs such as the Patriot
missile-defense system, but have been involved in fierce tussles
for new business in recent years. Raytheon last year prevailed in a
closely watched contest to build a new radar for the Navy.
Raytheon said it was notified of the Space Fence award decision
by the Air Force, which runs the program, and that "pending our
post-decision debrief with the Air Force, it is inappropriate to
comment at this time."
There are an estimated half million bits of man-made junk
whizzing around the Earth that could disable or destroy a
satellite, according to the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration. From spent rocket parts to paint flecks--and for a
short time even a glove--they range in size from a few centimeters
across to a deactivated, 30-foot satellite weighing nine tons.
All pose a threat to the 1,200 operational satellites in orbit
from various nations that are essential for cellphone service,
Internet access, Global Positioning System mapping and bank
machines, among other functions.
Lockheed has until 2018 to make the proposed space fence
operational, the Pentagon said Monday.
Write to Doug Cameron at doug.cameron@wsj.com
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