Tech firm creates device to study weather for NASA...

Sigma Space, a technical instrument provider in Lanham, has delivered its opto-mechanical system, electronics and fuselage structure to NASA.

The instrument — designed for atmospheric research, climate change studies and hurricane surveillance — will be NASA's first scientific instrument to be flown in the unmanned aircraft Global Hawk, according to agency information.

"The long-duration flights possible with the Global Hawk platform present unique challenges for science instrumentation," J. Marcos Sirota, president and CEO of Sigma, said in a statement.

"Sigma had the opportunity to apply all its expertise in aerospace instrument engineering in this project. We are grateful to be able to contribute to this unique tool for atmospheric research," Sigma designs aerospace optical instruments, miniature three-dimensional imaging systems, pattern recognition research and custom instruments for harsh environments.