Since the 1970s, the Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) system has been utilized to provide continuous daily global observations of weather patterns and environmental measurements of the Earth's atmosphere, its surface and cloud cover, and the proton and electron flux at satellite altitude. The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), has operated the current POES system since 1978, with a two satellite constellation in circular, near-polar, sun synchronous morning (1000) and afternoon (1400) orbits.

The launch of National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite (NPOESS) Preparatory Program (NPP) in 2006 and the first operational NPOESS in 2010 will begin a new phase in the NOAA's operational polar program. NPOESS will replace the current POES and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) programs, meeting both civilian and military environmental data requirements. The NPOESS program will provide many new opportunities and technologies for the Polar satellites. NPP will provide risk reduction opportunity for a subset of NPOESS capabilities. NPP will serve as a proof of concept mission for the NPOESS ground segment architecture and for critical instrumentation such as the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS).

During the transition to NPOESS, NESDIS must continue to meet existing user requirements and provide continuity of service. This will require numerous changes to the current POES ground system, focusing on data processing capabilities, product generation and distribution systems, as well as product science applications. NPP will provide a test bed for upgrading and developing new NESDIS processing resources.

This paper will provide an overview of the impact of NPP and NPOESS on the current POES ground system and product suites.