Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS): The Suomi NPP and NOAA-20 Successes Assure a Bright Future for NOAA’s Support to Its Key Stakeholders

This presentation will focus on the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) Program. Details will be provided on current JPSS operations and future plans. JPSS continues to represent the significant technological and scientific advancements in observations used for severe weather prediction and environmental monitoring. JPSS-1 successfully launched on November 18, 2017 and was renamed NOAA-20 upon reaching its final orbit. NOAA-20 was declared operational on May 31, 2018 and joins its predecessor and pathfinder satellite, Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP), in providing global state-of–the art atmospheric, oceanographic, and environmental data. Having these two spacecraft on orbit flying 50 min apart is a great opportunity to provide even more data and products to users as they respond with the changing environmental conditions.

Work has already begun on JPSS’ follow-on spacecraft. The JPSS baseline continues to consist of four instruments: advanced microwave and infrared sounders (CrIS, ATMS) which are critical for weather forecasting; a leading-edge visible and infrared imager (VIIRS) critical to data sparse areas such as Alaska and needed for environmental assessments such as snow/ice cover, droughts, volcanic ash, forest fires and surface temperature; and an ozone sensor (OMPS) primarily used for global monitoring of ozone and input to weather and climate models. The JPSS-2 instruments are well into their assembly and test phases and are scheduled to be completed in 2018. The JPSS-2 spacecraft critical design review (CDR) was successfully completed in December 2017 and will be followed by its Mission CDR in September 2018. JPSS-2 is scheduled for launch in 2021. The sensors for the JPSS-3 and 4 spacecraft have been approved to enter into their acquisition phases.

JPSS partnership with the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) continues to provide a strong foundation for the program’s success. NASA's role is to serve as acquisition Center of Excellence, providing acquisition of instruments and spacecraft. JPSS also continues to maintain its important international relationships with European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). JPSS works closely with its user community through the Proving Ground and Risk Reduction (PGRR) Program to identify opportunities to maximize the operational application of current JPSS capabilities. The PGRR Program also helps identify and evaluate the use of JPSS capabilities for new operational missions.

The work being done by the JPSS Program will ensure the continuity of critical capabilities for years to come, while looking for ways to make these capabilities even more useful to its operational users. The best is yet to come!