Civil Space

Weather Satellite Technology

For over 50 years, L3Harris has been at the forefront of advancing weather satellite capabilities to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, measure climate change and increase life-saving warning times.

Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO)
Providing trusted, life-saving severe weather predictions and warnings is critical to building a more weather-ready nation.

The L3Harris next-generation imager for NOAA’s GeoXO satellite system will capture real-time detail of severe storms across the Western Hemisphere.

L3Harris’ next generation of advanced sensors and imaging technology – orbiting on geostationary (GEO) satellites – is answering the call to prepare people for and protect them from severe weather.

L3Harris, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has developed innovative weather sensor technology that is at the forefront of the GeoXO mission. This technology provides highly detailed, real-time information on weather patterns, including high-resolution imagery, temperature and moisture data.

Learn about GeoXO

Advanced Baseline Imager Solutions
L3Harris’ Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instruments are the most sophisticated meteorological imaging instruments ever built for operational weather forecasting.

They are the only weather instruments that provide flexible, custom scanning that is configurable on-orbit.

ABI can track a single storm, at full resolution, while simultaneously collecting continent-wide data and imagery. All these improvements add up to faster and more accurate forecasts, improved hazardous weather tracking, and increased capability to study and monitor climate change.

GOES-R Series Ground Segment and Antenna Segment
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) GOES-R Series is essential to creating a more weather resilient nation.

From hurricanes to tornadoes to wildfires, extreme weather creates the need for early and accurate detection to keep people safe and out of harm’s way.

L3Harris’ enterprise cloud-based services, high-performance computing, machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies ensure NOAA can cost-effectively keep pace with future data rate and volume demand. This highly scalable ground system architecture is expandable to support additional satellites and missions while maintaining high-throughput, low-latency data processing and high system reliability all with a reduced footprint.

Learn about GOES-R

Universe Exploration

As a valued mission partner on enduring space missions, L3Harris enables the entire mission value chain, from planning and design to integration and execution. We also provide innovative solutions for missions on the horizon.

Telescope alignment evaluation image. Credit: NASA/STScI

James Webb Space Telescope

The James Webb Space Telescope, commonly referred to as "Webb," is the world's largest, most powerful telescope. It provides unprecedented images of the universe's first stars and galaxies. L3Harris’ engineers and technicians played a key role in assembling, integrating and testing NASA's ultra-powerful Webb telescope – which enables scientists to observe a part of space and time never seen before.

Learn More About James Webb Space Telescope

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

L3Harris is responsible for some of the most important tasks to create the telescope, including assembling the primary mirror. L3Harris created hardware to accommodate and interact with the two main scientific instruments on the telescope: the Wide Field Instrument and the Coronagraph.

Learn More About Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)

Scheduled to launch in the 2030s, LISA is comprised of a constellation of three spacecraft in an equilateral triangular formation, 2.5 million kilometers apart, in the same orbit as the Earth around the sun but trailing the Earth by 20 degrees in orbital phase. LISA detects gravitational waves by measuring the displacements between pairs of satellites with laser beams sent through optical telescopes on each satellite.

Learn More About LISA

Civil Space Gallery

Explore our collection of civil space imagery and videos.

Tarantula Nebula from James Webb Space Telescope

L3Harris Satellite Imagery showing satellite orbiting earth

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA) video

James Webb Space Telescope Explainer Video

Tarantula Nebula - Credits: NASA, ESA, CSA, ST...

How L3Harris’ Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) Enhances Weather Forecasting

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)

Resources

Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) Sell Sheet
Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON) Infrared (IR) Sounder Data Sheet
Geostationary (GEO) Infrared (IR) Sounder Sell Sheet
GOES-R Series Sell Sheet
Innovative Ground Systems for Weather Missions Data Sheet
Advanced Baseline Imager Sell Sheet
Geostationary Extended Observations (GEOXO) Imager (GXI) Data Sheet

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This is a unique pairing of technologies that significantly enhances operator effectiveness and overall mission success. This collaboration was a significant undertaking and results in an embeddable modem that can operate between the mGS and WGS constellations, making it the only SATCOM solution of its kind in the marketplace.

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- Chris Aebli, President, Mission Critical Communications

All Civil Space Capabilities

3D Models: 3D City Models

Available as high-fidelity, photo-realistic, textured 3D urban models or as 3D polygon files, our building models are the industry standard, providing both high levels of detail and accuracy.

Additive Manufacturing

Industry Leader in 3-D Printing, and Material and Design Solutions

Advance Tasking: Geospatial Data Solutions

Scheduling advanced data tasking can mean the difference between your project’s success and failure. Our geospatial data solutions help you extract site data in advance to ensure you have it when the need arises.

Advanced Baseline Imager Solutions

L3Harris’ Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) instruments are the most sophisticated meteorological imaging instruments ever built for operational weather forecasting.

See the difference in quality between 6” (left) and 1’ imagery (right). Hexagon imagery from 2016 in LA County, CA.

Aerial Imagery: Aerial Imaging Solutions

Our aerial photography, topographic maps, surveys, and historical data drive success in applications as diverse as mining, construction, insurance, real estate, agriculture, urban planning, and small business.

Aerodrome Mapping Database: AMDB

L3Harris’ AMDB are accurate GIS datasets that enhance surface navigation in airport-related activities. They comply with industry standards and comprise correlated imagery, elevation, and vector data that describe an aerodrome’s spatial layout.

Artemis II

As four astronauts ventured around the moon on Artemis II, L3Harris Technologies provided more than 100 elements that made this historic 10-day journey possible.

Commercial Imaging Payloads

L3Harris provides the highest resolution imaging capability commercially available.

Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)

L3Harris’ CrIS instrument observes more than 2,000 infrared channels to provide comprehensive information about temperature and moisture from around the globe, improving both the quality and quantity of data collection.

Elevation Data: Digital Elevation Models

Quickly access the best elevation data for your project with L3Harris’s expertise. We offer a wide selection of multi-resolution elevation data sets from 50 cm to 90 m from leading geospatial data providers covering the globe.

Geospatial Analytics

Geospatial analytics and Change Detection stand at the forefront of innovation, transforming aerial imagery maps and satellite imagery into actionable insights.

Geospatial Data & Imagery

Leverage our domain expertise to get the best geospatial data for your project.

Concept of the L3Harris next-generation imager for NOAA’s GeoXO satellite system capturing real-time detail of severe storms across the Western Hemisphere. Thumbnail image.

Geostationary Extended Observations (GeoXO)

Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites – R Series Ground Segment and Antenna Segment

GOES-R Series Ground Segment and Antenna Segment

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA’s) GOES-R Series is essential to creating a more weather resilient nation

GPS Operational Control System

L3Harris develops navigation processing components, precision monitor station receivers, and key components of the system security design for the GPS Operational Control System.

High-resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder

L3Harris’ high-resolution infrared radiation sounder (HIRS) instrument has been internationally recognized as the operational sounder for global weather data since 1978.

High-Resolution Satellite Imagery

With resolutions ranging from 0.3 meters to 1 meter, our high-resolution satellite imagery redefines what’s possible in simulation, engineering, infrastructure, telecommunications, precision agriculture, and disaster recovery.

HyperCube™ Infrared Sounding and 3D Wind Measurement

With HyperCube, L3Harris has miniaturized its proven hyperspectral sensor technology to meet future requirements for sounding and 3D wind data.

Intellimatics

L3Harris Intellimatics is an advanced, unified capability that uses one or many intelligence sources. It provides fully automatic intelligence from sensors based in space and on aircraft in near-real-time.

James Webb Space Telescope

L3Harris engineers helped build NASA's ultra-powerful James Webb Space Telescope, which provides unprecedented images of the universe's first stars and galaxies.

Joint Polar Satellite System Capabilities

Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)

We provide the mission-critical weather observation instrument, the integral communications between the spacecraft and ground stations, as well as continuous direct broadcast downlink for NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites.

Laser Interferometer Space Antenna (LISA)

LISA detects gravitational waves by measuring the displacements between pairs of satellites with laser beams sent through optical telescopes on each satellite.

Mapping: Geospatial Mapping

Visualize the world around you with the best geospatial mapping tools. Our robust product suite includes 2D images, 3D terrain, building models, intricate airport datasets, roadway networks, classification maps, and other visualization products.

Material Identification

L3Harris material identification technology enables remote sensing systems to detect, identify and geolocate the presence of solid materials and gasses – on Earth and in the atmosphere.

Medium-Resolution Satellite Imagery for Comprehensive Coverage

Use Medium-resolution satellite imagery resolutions ranging from 1.5 to 5 meters to understand large area changes with quality imagery from the top provider. Learn more today.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope is designed to provide data that might settle some of the most enduring mysteries of the universe – dark energy, dark matter, exoplanets and undiscovered galaxies.

NASA Orion Audio System

L3Harris' NASA Orion audio system will play a mission-critical role in returning astronauts to the lunar surface as part of the Artemis missions.

Orion

Safely Carrying Humans to Deep Space

Precision Optics and Assemblies

High-performance, reliable optics for ground and space-based observation.

RS-25 Engine

Powering Deep Space Exploration

Satellite and Payload Processing

World-class commercial space operations services at Vandenberg Air Force Base

Satellite Imagery

L3Harris has partnered with the leading satellite imagery providers to offer a wide variety of imagery resolutions from 30 cm to 15 m data for any location in the world.

Solid Rocket Motors

Proven Propulsion. Fueled by Innovation.

Synthetic Aperture Radar: SAR Data

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), an innovative solution for collecting and analyzing data in adverse weather. SAR allows you to see through rain, smoke, clouds and even darkness to obtain high-resolution imagery at critical moments.

TANSO-FTS-2 Greenhouse Gas Observing Satellite-2 Payload

The payload, known as the Thermal and Near Infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation-Fourier Transform Spectrometer-2 (TANSO-FTS-2), will measure the density of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

TrueTerrain™ Visual Simulation Products

Enhance your virtual training with superior geospatial technology and data. Our TrueTerrain™ Visual Simulation products help governments, militaries, and commercial programs elevate their training environments to achieve maximum results.

Vector Data: Digital Vector Maps

Choose from various types of digital vector data, including line, polygon, and point datasets, Aerodrome Mapping Databases (AMDB), Land Use Land Coverage (LULC) classifications, and other digital representations.

For over 50 years, L3Harris has been at the forefront of advancing weather satellite capabilities to improve the accuracy of weather forecasts, measure climate change and increase life-saving warning times.

Weather Satellite Technology

L3Harris’ innovative weather satellite solutions are critical to improving the accuracy of weather forecasts, measuring climate change and increasing life-saving warning times.

Weather Sustainment

L3Harris provides engineering, sustainment, software and hardware engineering, and management for range instrumentation

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Related News

Press release | 08. 04. 2026

L3Harris Completes Sale of Majority Stake in Commercial Space Propulsion, Power and Electronics Businesses to AE Industrial Partners

L3Harris Technologies has completed the sale of a majority stake in its commercial space propulsion, power and electronics businesses to AE Industrial Partners at a total enterprise value of $845 million.