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| NOAA-17 | |
|---|---|
| Name | NOAA-17 |
| Mission type | Weather satellite |
| Operator | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |
| Spacecraft type | TIROS-N/NOAA series |
| Manufacturer | Ball Aerospace |
| Launch date | 2002-06-24 UTC |
| Launch vehicle | Delta II 7320-10 |
| Launch site | Vandenberg Air Force Base |
| Orbit reference | Geocentric |
| Orbit regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Instruments | AVHRR/3; HIRS/4; AMSU-A; AMSU-B; SEM; SARSAT |
| Status | Decommissioned |
NOAA-17 NOAA-17 was a polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite launched in 2002 as part of the TIROS-N/NOAA series, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in cooperation with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the United States Department of Commerce. It carried a suite of radiometers and sounders designed to support National Weather Service forecasting, United States Navy maritime operations, and global climate monitoring for agencies such as World Meteorological Organization programs and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The platform contributed to polar-orbiting continuity with sensors similar to earlier missions like NOAA-15 and later missions like NOAA-18 while interfacing with international systems including EUMETSAT and JAXA data exchanges.
The spacecraft was derived from the TIROS-N architecture developed by NASA and built by Ball Aerospace under contracts managed by the Office of Systems Development (NOAA), featuring a three-axis stabilized bus and power systems compatible with Delta II launch constraints. Instrumentation included the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer version 3 (AVHRR/3) for visible and infrared imaging, the High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS/4) for temperature and humidity profiles, the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU-A and AMSU-B) for sounding under cloud, the Space Environment Monitor (SEM) for particle flux, and the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) transponder to support distress beacon localization. Each sensor supported calibration and validation activities conducted with partners such as NOAA's National Climatic Data Center, NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and international calibration sites like Mauna Kea Observatory.
Primary objectives aligned with continuity of climate data records, atmospheric sounding, and surface imaging to support National Weather Service forecasts, Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center operations, and International Maritime Organization safety through emergency beacon relays. Operational control and command were handled by NOAA Satellite Operations Facility teams coordinating with United States Space Force range assets for telemetry, tracking, and commanding, while data dissemination utilized ground stations in networks such as Direct Broadcast sites and regional processing centers run by EUMETSAT partners. Science objectives included contributions to reanalysis projects like ERA-Interim and assimilation into numerical weather prediction systems maintained by entities including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on a Delta II rocket provided by United Launch Alliance legacy operations, in a mission profile coordinated with range safety authorities including the Western Range. Pre-launch integration activities involved contractors such as Ball Aerospace and government oversight by NASA and NOAA program managers. Deployment sequences placed the satellite into a sun-synchronous, near-polar orbit followed by solar array and antenna deployments validated by telemetry received at ground stations operated by NOAA's Satellite Operations Facility and international downlink partners including EUMETSAT and regional receiving stations.
NOAA-17 was placed into a sun-synchronous, near-circular polar orbit enabling global coverage with ascending and descending node passes tailored for morning or afternoon local equator crossing times, consistent with the polar-orbiting operational satellite constellation used by NOAA and DOD for environmental surveillance. Orbit determination and prediction were maintained by tracking assets from organizations such as the United States Space Surveillance Network and the Two-Line Element set catalog entries used by operational centers like Joint Space Operations Center for conjunction assessment. Precise ephemerides supported by laser ranging and Doppler tracking enabled users at institutions like the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to model orbital decay and predict reentry risk.
NOAA-17 produced calibrated radiance and level-1b products from AVHRR/3 and sounder datasets used in level-2 retrievals for sea surface temperature, cloud properties, and atmospheric temperature and humidity profiles; these products fed operational centers such as the National Hurricane Center, National Snow and Ice Data Center, and Hydrometeorological Prediction Center. Data were assimilated into numerical weather prediction models run by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction and the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, contributed to climate monitoring archives at institutions like NOAA's National Climatic Data Center and supported research by universities including University of Colorado Boulder and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. SARSAT returns assisted search and rescue coordination with organizations like Coast Guard rescue coordination centers and international mission control centers under Cospas-Sarsat agreements.
Throughout its operational life, the satellite experienced instrument degradations and operational anomalies similar to predecessors such as NOAA-14 and successors like NOAA-18, including sensor calibration drifts, telemetry interruptions, and power subsystem aging managed by engineers at NOAA Satellite Operations Facility and contractors like Ball Aerospace. Specific events included gradual performance decline of sounders handled via software adjustments and changes in operational modes to extend usable life, with anomaly investigations involving cross-agency teams from NASA, NOAA, and industry partners following processes established by the Federal Aviation Administration safety culture and interagency review boards.
After reaching end of operational usefulness, the satellite was formally decommissioned following procedures coordinated with United States Space Command and orbital debris mitigation guidance from Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee practices, with final commands issued from the NOAA Satellite Operations Facility and data stewardship transferred to archival centers like NOAA's National Climatic Data Center. NOAA-17's legacy includes continuity of long-term climate records used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and operational practices informing later polar-orbiting missions such as the Joint Polar Satellite System and collaborations with agencies including EUMETSAT and NASA for improved instrument designs and data assimilation strategies.
Category:Polar orbiting satellites Category:Weather satellites Category:National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites