NPOESS
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The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is the United States' next-generation satellite system that will monitor the Earth's weather, atmosphere, oceans, land and near-space environment. NPOESS satellites will host proven technologies and operational versions of sensors that are currently under operational-prototyping by NASA. The estimated launch date for the first NPOESS satellite, "C1" or "Charlie 1" is around 2013. Issues with sensor developments are the primary cited reason for delays and cost-overruns.
NPOESS will be operated by the NOAA / NESDIS / NPOESS Program Executive Office Flight Operations at the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF) in Suitland, MD. Northrop Grumman Space Technology (NGST, formerly TRW) is the primary system integrator for the NPOESS project. Raytheon, Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. and Boeing are developing the sensors.
NPOESS is a replacement for both the United States Department of Defense DMSP and the NOAA Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) series.
The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) program aims to bridge the gap between old and new systems by flying new instruments on a satellite to be launched in 2009. The 4 instruments include the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS).[1]: The NPP project is under review and the launch date has been postponed.
[edit] References
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[edit] External links
- NPOESS at NOAA
- NPOESS page at Northrop Grumman
- NPP at Ball Aerospace
- NPP at NASA Goddard
- OMPS at Ball Aerospace
- NPOESS Userport
- NOAA NESDIS POES Satellites
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