NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System and the S-NPP Satellite Delivering a New Generation of Environmental Earth Observations

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program is busily preparing for launch of its second satellite in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2017. JPSS-1 will build upon the success of the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (S-NPP) launched in October of 2011 which uses virtually the same sensors, algorithms, ground-based systems, and data processing systems. Important improvements from SNPP include downloading science mission data to a second polar station to significantly lower data latency and the capability to transmit data to the NASA Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System (TDRSS). The four main instruments for JPSS-1 are undergoing final tests before moving to the assembly phase. In addition to talking about the two sounders, the imager, and ozone instruments, the ground architecture and our important international and Department of Defense partnerships will be discussed. The JPSS mission is expected to continue operations through the year 2025 and the program will provide significantly improved operational capabilities and benefits to satisfy critical civil and national security requirements for space-based, remotely sensed environmental data.