North Logan space lab lands NASA contract

NORTH LOGAN — Fifty years of atmospheric studies helped a Utah company land a multimillion-dollar contract to help NASA study climate change data.

Space Dynamics Laboratory announced Friday that it had been selected to provide support for NASA's Climate Absolute Radiance and Refractivity Observatory Mission (CLARREO).

The contract is valued at up to $9.6 million over five years.

Owned by the Utah State University Research Foundation, Space Dynamics will become part of the mission's "integrated" product team, providing instrument systems expertise and capabilities for conducting measurements in the infrared spectrum. That includes systems engineering, design of infrared measurement systems, analysis and modeling, and instrument systems development and characterization.

"For five decades, SDL has been at the forefront of atmospheric studies, and I am pleased that we will once again support NASA for a crucial mission," said Niel Holt, the laboratory's director.

"SDL will help NASA accomplish the CLARREO mission that will bring revolutionary accuracy to climate measurement and provide a global benchmark measurement for conclusively determining long-term climate trends."

By gathering the most accurate climate data, the intent of the mission is to enable scientists to better understand natural and human-induced changes in climate and provide improved forecasts that are needed to more effectively respond to climate change. In addition, CLARREO will provide the first space-based measurements of the Earth's far infrared spectrum.

Space Dynamics Laboratory joins Harvard University and the University of Wisconsin as members of the product team.

Founded in 1959, the laboratory has been responsible for the design, fabrication and operation of thousands of sensors on more than 500 payloads ranging from aircraft and rocket-borne experiments to space shuttle experiments, small satellites and satellite-based sensor systems.

As one of 14 university-affiliated research centers in the nation, the nonprofit lab conceives and develops state-of-the-art sensor and satellite systems; performs space-, air-, and ground-based experiments; conducts rapid, experimental development of prototype sensor hardware and associated software; performs concept validation studies and demonstrations; and develops data fusion technology for passive and active sensors.

The Utah State University Research Foundation was created in 1967 as a nonprofit corporation owned by USU. The foundation is designed to provide an organization for the management and physical support of applied research, the discovery of new ideas and the advancement of technologies.

e-mail: amyjoi@desnews.com