An Update of NOAA’s Low Earth Orbiting Environmental Programs

Since 2011, the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) multi-mission series of Low Earth Orbit (LEO) polar-orbiting environmental satellites has served as one of the most important sources of continuous state-of-the-art observations of the Earth’s land, oceans, and atmosphere to protect lives and property and support the U.S. economy. The first two JPSS satellites, Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) and NOAA-20, are working nominally, each providing full global coverage twice a day while flying 50 minutes apart in the afternoon orbit, presenting a unique opportunity for data and product users to effectively respond to a changing environment. On November 10, 2022, JPSS-2 was launched from Vandenberg SFB and has joined Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 as NOAA-21, JPSS’ third satellite in a series of five, with JPSS-3 and -4 maintaining data continuity of LEO observations well into the 2030s. NOAA-21 is expected to become operational in Fall 2023. With a strong foundation, JPSS and our established partnerships with the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA), are working to ensure a strong continuity of resilient data that will be the foundation for future decisions for the next generation of LEO satellites. The operational continuity of JPSS observations and products allows for increased global coverage for numerical weather prediction, disaster response, and land, ocean, meteorology, and climate applications. The JPSS baseline continues to consist of four instruments: advanced microwave and infrared sounders (CrIS, ATMS) that are critical for weather forecasting; a revolutionary visible and infrared imager (VIIRS) with ultra-sensitivity in low light conditions that is critical to data sparse areas, such as Alaska, and is essential for assessing environmental conditions, such as snow/ice cover, volcanic ash, forest fires, drought, surface temperature, and air quality; and an ozone sensor (OMPS) primarily used for global monitoring of ozone and as an input to weather and climate models. NOAA’s partnership with NASA also provides an opportunity for NASA-designed instruments to fly onboard JPSS satellites, such as the new Libera sensor that will measure solar radiation and is planned for inclusion on the next JPSS mission, currently slated for December 2027. Complementing the flight segment is the JPSS ground system, which provides critical support in mission management, data reception, and product processing to enable mission success.

To further leverage advancements in LEO satellite systems, in 2022, NOAA established a next generation LEO initiative that sets the stage for managing future polar-orbiting and other low-earth orbiting observation systems as loosely associated programs. Called the Near Earth Orbit Network (NEON), this next generation LEO program will complement the current, ongoing programs of record, facilitate gap mitigation and risk reduction activities, and support continuity of JPSS and non-JPSS LEO observations. We have recently completed the system requirements review for the NEON program and initiated the phase A formulation studies for the next generation microwave sounder. The QuickSounder mission, slated for launch in early 2026, will be the first NEON program mission to exploit the “New Space” paradigm that benefits from commercial aerospace innovations. The NEON program will enable the JPSS Program to maintain important relationships with national and international partners, like NASA, EUMETSAT, and JAXA, while enabling other international, commercial and domestic partnerships, allowing greater reach and increased delivery of capabilities to stakeholders.