NPOESS Preparatory Mission (NPP) has two mission objectives: providing risk reduction for key parts of the NPOESS program, and providing continuity of Earth Observing System (EOS)-initiated measurements. In this presentation, we will discuss NASA's efforts to foster NPOESS risk reduction through successfully accomplishing the goal of scientific measurement continuity. Specifically, NASA's EOS program ushered in a new era of satellite remote sensing through its generation and online provision of global ocean, land and atmospheric products within days of data collection. EOS strongly emphasized sensor calibration and characterization, and product quality assurance and validation. Many scientific discoveries have come as a result.

As the bridge between EOS and NPOESS, NPP provides an opportunity to transition the many EOS lessons into the nation's operational systems. To accomplish this, NASA has independently funded NPP Project and Science Teams. In addition to managing the launch and early operation of NPP, these teams are developing the NPOESS Science Data Segment (SDS) to help analyze and improve the official NPP/NPOESS calibration, algorithms, and products such that EOS-like measurements and products are attained operationally. Where such improvements are inappropriate for NPOESS near-real time production systems (e.g., due to latency or reprocessing requirements), NASA's Science Team is helping develop technologies to generate advanced products within discipline-based data processing centers. The planned centers will be guided by focus area science teams and charged with producing long-term multi-mission satellite products of consistent quality as required for global change research. By dedicating teams to the transition EOS science technologies into NPP/NPOESS, NASA will help reduce risks by both improving the operational products and ensuring top-quality sensor data records (L1b data) for possible further product generation.