NPOESS Environmental Data Records

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) is the next generation polar environmental satellite. In addition to sensed raw data, NPOESS will provide a suite of end products known as Environmental Data Records or EDRs. These EDRs were developed by a multi-year process of requirements review with user communities which served as the basis for individual sensor designs. NPOESS has recently achieved additional insight into expectations of operational performance of the satellite system when fully delivered. System performance requirements are now established for emerging Government Furnished Equipment (GFE) sensors needed for producing an important subset of required EDRs. These sensors include the Microwave Imager/Sounder (MIS) and the Space Environment Monitor-NPOESS (SEM-N). Ongoing environmental testing of primary sensors within the NPOESS Preparatory Project offers further information on sensor performance and higher confidence in current best estimates of EDR performance for NPOESS. This poster provides an illustration and details of the products that will be produced by NPOESS and how the system's sensors contribute to these products.