Company to develop software backbone, integrate commercial components for NOAA’s spaceflight safety platform

CHANTILLY, Va., March 18, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announces the award of a $15.5 million one-year base value contract to Parsons Corporation (NYSE: PSN) of Chantilly, Virginia, for system integration and cloud management services for the Traffic Coordination System for Space (TraCSS). NOAA’s Office of Space Commerce (OSC) is developing TraCSS as a modern, cloud-based IT system that will provide space situational awareness (SSA) and space traffic coordination (STC) services to private and civil space operators. Such services are essential for global spaceflight safety and the long-term sustainability of the space environment for commercial, civil, national security, and international uses.

As the system integrator, Parsons will develop the software backbone for the operational TraCSS platform, including the SSA data repository (TraCSS-OASIS) and the application layer (TraCSS-SKYLINE). The company will integrate containerized, third-party software components from commercial companies into TraCSS. Following an agile development approach, the company will build the basic infrastructure for the TraCSS system that will allow continuous improvement and evolution to react to changing TraCSS mission needs. The company’s role also encompasses management of cloud services, cybersecurity protection, and system administration for TraCSS operations.

“The Commerce Department continues to make major strides in the execution of our space situational awareness program,” said Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves. “This contract award demonstrates our commitment to leverage best-of-breed, commercial innovation to achieve our ambitious timelines and objectives for TraCSS.”

“NOAA has decades of experience fielding operational, public safety systems that issue hazard alerts to protect lives and property,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. “We are applying that experience to the development of TraCSS.”

“We look forward to leveraging Parsons’ expertise across the national security sector and our operational experience in space domain awareness supporting flight safety of all active satellites on orbit to support the Office of Space Commerce as it takes over this crucial mission from the Department of Defense. By strengthening the collaboration between industry, the government, and other TraCSS mission partners, we will establish a world-class system that safeguards vital space assets in a challenging, contested, and competitive environment,” said Carey Smith, chair, president and chief executive officer for Parsons.