Investing in NOAA’s New Space Architecture in Low Earth Orbit

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) conducted a study, titled the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study, to plan for the next generation of weather satellites. This study outlined new capabilities and architectures which NOAA should be investing in to ensure readiness of new satellites for when current operating satellite are expected to retire. This paper will discuss the near-term strategies for investment in the Low Earth Orbit (LEO) portion of NOAA’s constellation.

Over the next-two years, NOAA will be investing in instrument and mission concepts in several areas as part of a Pre-Phase A formulation activity. In the area of Microwave and Infrared Sounding continuity, NOAA will be soliciting for instrument concept studies via a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). These concept studies will seek to identify where new technology can enable significant new capabilities identified in the NSOSA study, and where new technology can reduce the cost of maintaining observational continuity. The BAA will also solicit overall Mission Concepts including new acquisition approaches to increase flexibility in NOAA’s architecture. We will also discuss other areas of the LEO constellation and how we are investing in technology maturation with partnerships both domestic and foreign.