The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) marks the most significant change in U.S. operational remote sensing since the launch of the first weather satellite in 1960 and heralds a new unified path for the U.S. to develop, acquire, manage, and operate environmental satellites. Through NPOESS, the U.S. government is reducing duplication of efforts by taking an integrated approach to identifying and meeting common requirements while satisfying the unique requirements of the civil and national security communities, as well as increasing international cooperation, including the open distribution of environmental data. The triagency NPOESS program is well along the path to creating a high performance, integrated polar satellite system that will cost less, be more responsive to user demands, and deliver more capability than those in use today.