NASA launching JPSS-1 weather satellite
- by Michele Ross
- in Sci-tech
- — Nov 14, 2017
Instruments aboard polar-orbiting satellites, like ones aboard JPSS-1 and its preceding spacecraft, known as the Suomi-NPP, obtain data on the winds and moisture in the upper atmosphere. According to the National Weather Service, 85% of the data flowing into their weather forecast models come from polar-orbiting satellites like the one that will launch Tuesday. Forecasters will be able to use the data to better predict weather events and hazards, such as a hurricane's track, and when a hurricane will intensify or weaken, as well as identifying power outages in addition to locating and evaluating damage following a storm. Over longer timescales, this data will help improve our understanding of climate patterns that influence the weather, such as El Nino and La Nina.
Scott Asbury, program director at Ball Aerospace and formerly the JPSS-1 program manager, is among the roughly 10 Ball personnel who will be at the launch site, while about another 10 from Ball plan to be at the NASA satellite operations facility in Suitland, Md.
The launch of the Delta II rocket was scrubbed four minutes ahead of its scheduled liftoff at 1:47 a.m. "We are proud to contribute to NOAA's continued leadership in critical weather forecasting throughout the entire JPSS series".
The five instrument suites on JPSS-1 are the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS), Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), and Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES). Instruments on board were designed by Ball, along with Raytheon, Harris and Northrop Grumman. The next launch attempt will be on Wednesday (Nov. 15) at 4:47 a.m. EST.
The JPSS is the Nation's new generation polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite system.
Assuming that JPSS-1 launches successfully on Tuesday and functions normally in orbit, the US will again have two working polar satellites at work at the same time. "The Flight 2 development, build and test have proceeded smoothly and follow the success of the Flight 1 instrument for NPOESS Preparatory Project".
Vandenberg Air Force Base originally planned to launch the rocket last Friday, but the launch had to be rescheduled to replace a faulty battery on the rocket booster.
The event is for credentialed reporters only.
