During the development of each NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) instrument, significant testing was performed, both in ambient and simulated orbital (thermal-vacuum) conditions, at the factory, and eventually during spacecraft integration. The NPP pre-launch test data collection, distribution, and archive campaign included adaptable operational support infrastructures to quickly and completely transfer test data and documentation from the instrument and spacecraft factories to sensor scientist teams on-site at the factory and around the country. This effort permitted timely data quality assessments and technical feedback, and was critical in supporting sensor development.

Second, in parallel to near real-time data distribution to the sensor science teams, pre-launch test data were transferred and ingested into the central NPP calibration and validation (cal/val) system, known as the Government Resource for Algorithm Verification, Independent Testing, and Evaluation (GRAVITE), where they will reside for the life of the mission. As a result, data and documentation are available for query, analysis, and download by the cal/val community via the command-line GRAVITE Transfer Protocol (GTP) tool or via the CasaNOSA website. Instrument and spacecraft test data, telemetry, and ground support equipment information were collected and organized with detailed test procedures, logs, analyses, characterizations, and reports. This 45-Terabyte archive will facilitate comparison of on-orbit NPP operating characteristics with that observed prior to launch.