Hughes Wins NASA Satellite Contract

Hughes Space & Communications won a $423-million contract to build two geostationary weather satellites for NASA and the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, the company said. Hughes will design and build the two satellites--based on its popular HS 601 model--which are scheduled to be launched on Boeing Delta III rockets in 2001 and 2003. The contract includes options to build two additional spacecraft for $190.9 million and $185 million. The Los Angeles-based unit of Hughes Electronics is the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial satellites.