Watch NASA launch the latest next-gen weather sat into space
Meteorologist/Science Writer
Saturday, November 18, 2017, 8:36 AM - NASA launched the newest in a line of advanced, next-generation weather satellites early Saturday morning, which will now provide high-resolution data for our day to day weather forecasts.
At 4:47 a.m. EST, on Saturday, November 18, NOAA's new Joint Polar Satellite System 1 (or JPSS-1 for short) lifted off from Space Launch Complex 2 at California’s Vandenberg Air Force Base.
This was NASA's third attempt to launch JPSS-1 into orbit. After a first attempt on Tuesday was scrubbed due to a technical problem with the rocket, a second attempt on Wednesday was called off due to strong upper level winds causing unfavourable weather conditions.
JPSS-1 is the second in a constellation of weather satellites, which will join together with NASA's Suomi NPP satellite, which has already been in orbit for over 6 years, to provide the latest in high-resolution weather data.
This artist's conception drawing shows JPSS-1's various instruments against a backdrop of the Earth at Night. Credit: NOAA
According to NOAA:
Satellites in the JPSS constellation gather global measurements of atmospheric, terrestrial and oceanic conditions, including sea and land surface temperatures, vegetation, clouds, rainfall, snow and ice cover, fire locations and smoke plumes, atmospheric temperature, water vapor and ozone. JPSS delivers key observations for the Nation's essential products and services, including forecasting severe weather like hurricanes, tornadoes and blizzards days in advance, and assessing environmental hazards such as droughts, forest fires, poor air quality and harmful coastal waters. Further, JPSS will provide continuity of critical, global Earth observations— including our atmosphere, oceans and land through 2038.
JPSS-1 was launched into orbit atop a United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket.
The details of the Delta II rocket that launched JPSS-1 into orbit.
With JPSS-1 in space, once it becomes operational, it will be renamed NOAA-20. After this, it will be followed by three more similar satellites - JPSS-2, JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 - over the next 14 years.
