NPOESS: BUILDING CAPACITY IN OUR GLOBAL WEATHER SATELLITE SYSTEM
- Paper number
IAC-08.B1.2.3
- Author
Mr. Ron Birk, Northrop Grumman Space Technology, United States
- Coauthor
Ms. Maureen Heath, Northrop Grumman Corporation, United States
- Year
2008
- Abstract
The United States is developing the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System through the Integrated Program Office represented by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Air Force (USAF), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The NPOESS system includes a series of spacecraft carrying a suite of sophisticated sensors, a global network of downlink stations configured into a SafetyNet™, and distributed data processing centers running the robust Interface Data Processing Segment (IDPS). The NPOESS program includes the sensors on the NASA NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) spacecraft scheduled to be launched in 2009, the NPOESS C1 spacecraft scheduled to be launched in 2013, and the NPOESS C2 spacecraft scheduled to be launched in 2015. The NPOESS system of systems program includes the development of algorithms for processing the raw data from the sensors, and the calibration and validation of the sensor outputs. A key focus of the program is to address user community expectations for access to sensor data and performance more than 1 year advance of launch using the Northrop Grumman EVEREST system with simulated data output for each of the sensors based on actual performance characteristics and realistic geographic and temporal ranges. With the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS), Visible Imaging Infrared Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), Cross Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) instruments on the NPOESS Preparatory Project spacecraft, metrics on sensor performance and realistic, validated data output from EVEREST run with measured sensor performance input are valuable resources for the user community to have in advance of the on-orbit delivery of data streams from NPP in 2009. The mechanisms for data access through SafetyNet™, processing and dissemination through the IDPS, and information on linkages to the national and regional infrastructure with the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) are key to optimizing the value of the data flow as soon as on-orbit checkout has been completed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-08.B1.2.3.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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