Satellite Missions Updates

1
Satellite Missions Updates
8th International Ice Charting Working Group
(IICWG) Frascati, Italy
Sharolyn Young Deputy Director, U.S. National Ice
Center NOAA Satellite Operations Facility
(NSOF) Suitland, Maryland October 24, 2007
2
National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental
Satellite System (NPOESS ) Mission Update
3
National Polar-Orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS ) Mission
Update (cont)
4
Continuity of Polar Operational
Satellite Programs
5
NPOESS Sensor Updates

• Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite
  (VIIRS) Reduced Coverage (No mid-morning
  orbit)
• Conical Scanning Microwave Imager (CMIS)
  Reduced Capability
• Capability and Coverage Reductions in Science
  Priority

6
VIIRS NPOESS Mitigation

• VIIRS is intended to succeed the MODIS
  instruments on Aqua and Terra
• VIIRS was planned to fly on all six of the
  original NPOESS missions
• The Certified NPOESS uses an AVHRR on the
  European MetOp Mission in the mid-AM orbit.
• A VIIRS in the mid-AM orbit would continue the
  climate data products presently produced by MODIS
  on Terra

7
Conical Microwave Imaging Scanner (CMIS)(Reduced
Capability Sensor)

• Provides sea surface temperatures, sea ice and
  snow cover extents
• Ability to obtain both day and night measurements
  
• CMIS data are currently provided by the Aqua
  AMSR-E instrument, the SeaWinds scatterometer on
  the QuikSCATMission, and the experimental surface
  vector wind sensor from the Navys
  Windsat/Coriolis Mission
• Some of these data also provided by SSMIS on DMSP
  Missions
• CMIS was originally a six-band system with
  vertical and horizontal polarization in each band
• Descoped to a less expensive system known as
  Microwave Imager/Sounder (MIS)
• MIS not yet clearly defined in detail
• Scheduled for NPOESS C2 (2016)

8
Integrated Earth Observing Satellite Missions
9
Implementation of Planned Earth Observing
Systems
Phases 1 2007-2009 End of legacy and ongoing
satellite missions and instruments of significant
relevance to cryosphere monitoring . 2
2010-2015 Plans concepts for ample global
space observing systems for cryospheric
monitoring becoming reality, but at considerable
cost. 3 After 2015 Optimistically
continued implementation of planned recommended
space missions that will fill key observational
gaps.
10
Thank You