NOAA Space Weather Next Program for Operational Observations

Introduction and Background: The Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service’s (NESDIS) Office of Space Weather Observations (SWO) supports the United States National Space Weather Strategy by implementing and sustaining operational observation platforms, capabilities, and supporting observations to increase capabilities of data-driven Space Weather models.

The Space Weather Next (SW Next) program, managed by SWO furthers the NESDIS strategic continuity of essential remote and in-situ space-based space weather measurements that address the NESDIS strategic objective to “ Advance space weather observational leadership in all applicable orbits to meet mission needs.

” This program will maintain a long-term sustained capability for operational space weather observations as well as ensure continued data stewardship and access. The SW Next program includes the existing Space weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness (SOLAR) project that will continue and provide resilience for the measurement sets gathered by the Space Weather Follow-On Lagrange 1 (SWFO-L1) mission.

Anticipated future SW Next projects would provide continuity and resilience for the measurement sets gathered by the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES)-R Series space weather observations and other geosynchronous space weather observations. Analysis of alternatives to satisfy these requirements, notionally identified as Space Weather Geo (SW GEO) is ongoing.

The SW Next program is a joint development and acquisition effort between NOAA and NASA. NOAA’s updated 2025 Management Control Plan for space system acquisition establishes an updated relationship between NESDIS and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) for acquisition, development and deployment of NOAA space systems.

This “Access To Space” RFI seeks information from industry regarding interest, capabilities, and options for providing launch integration and launch services for future NOAA Space weather systems via direct contracts with industry either acquired through NOAA/NESDIS or through NASA/GSFC.

This RFI also seeks innovative and cost effective commercial industry partner ideas for future arrangements where the “Access to Space” services could be added to the scope of work for vendors who’ve been contracted for the development of future SW Next program spacecraft (i.e. a bundled contract approach). Please view "SWO Access to Space RFI Attachment" for complete information.