This federal contract award to Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech) is for the development of the GLO (GFCR Limb Solar Occultation) instrument, a solar occultation instrument suitable for constellations of small satellites. The goal is to provide highly accurate measurements of atmospheric trace species, temperature, and aerosols, with a focus on characterizing the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere, which is a key but poorly documented component of the climate system.
The contract, valued at $1,980,724.96, is part of the SOCRATES (Solar Occultation Constellation for Retrieving Aerosols and Trace Element Species) mission concept to quantify the role of the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere in climate change. The award is from the Shared Services Center, a civilian agency. The contract does not have a set-aside designation, and Virginia Tech, as a leading public research university, is leveraging its expertise in areas such as engineering, science, and technology to develop this advanced space-based instrument.