A Delta II rocket launches with the NPOESS Preparatory Plan (NPP) spacecraft payload from Space Launch Complex two at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011. (Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls)
America's newest polar-orbiting satellite roared into orbit this morning, setting the stage for enhanced weather data N.O.A.A. scientists will use to develop life-saving severe weather forecasts days in advance.
The NPOESS Preparatory Plan (NPP) satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force, Calif., at 2:48 a.m. PDT aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket. At approximately 3:45 a.m. PDT, the spacecraft separated from the Delta II to the delight of N.O.A.A. and N.A.S.A. officials.
NPP is a N.A.S.A. Earth-observing satellite and features 5 new instruments that will collect more detailed information about Earth's atmosphere, land and oceans. N.A.S.A. will use NPP as a research mission, while N.O.A.A. will use the data for short and long-term weather forecasting and environmental monitoring.
"This year has been one for the record books for severe weather," said Dr. Jane Lubchenco, under secretary of business for oceans and atmosphere and N.O.A.A. administrator. "The need for improved data from NPP and the next generation satellite system under development by N.A.S.A. and N.O.A.A. has never been greater. They will enhance our ability to alert the public with as much lead time as possible."
In 2011, data from polar-orbiting satellites like NPP allowed emergency managers and communities to prepare for severe weather events . 5 days before a destructive and deadly tornado outbreak in Alabama and parts of the Southeast in April, N.O.A.A. forecasters were able to see the early atmospheric signs of the storm system developing and issue timely warnings.
NPP will orbit Earth every 102 minutes, flying 512 miles above the surface, monitoring atmospheric conditions below. The 1st of the NPP data will become accessible in about 90 days and begin replacing data from the NOAA-19 satellite in the afternoon orbit, passing over the U.S. during full daylight hours.
NPP is also the bridge that links NOAA's current polar-orbiting satellites to the next generation of advanced spacecraft called the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), which is currently set to launch in late 2016, pending funding. NPP will test how the new instruments perform before they are formally added to the JPSS satellites. NOAA's Satellite Operations Facility in Suitland, Md., will process and distribute the data from NPP.
The originally planned launch of JPSS has been setback due to delays in backing over the past couple of years. This means there will be a data gap between the time NPP begins to degrade from the harsh space environment and the time JPSS is succsessfully placed into operation. The length of that gap depends on future years backing and the agency remains optimistic that current year Congressional support will carry over into a final appropriation and outyear funding.
Dr. Kathryn Sullivan, assistant secretary of business for environmental observation and prediction and N.O.A.A. deputy administrator, hailed the successful launch of NPP as a credit to the long-standing partnership between N.O.A.A. and NASA.
"This partnership works," Sullivan said. "For in excess of 40 years, we have worked together fielding observation satellites to provide the nation with critical environmental intelligence to protect lives and livelihoods."
NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment, from the depths of the ocean to the surface of the sun, and to conserve and manage our coastal and marine resources. Join us on Facebook, Twitter and our other social media channels.
