NOAA-L WEATHER SATELLITE SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED
NOAA-16 SENDS FIRST IMAGE

September 21, 2000 — A new NOAA satellite that will improve weather forecasting and monitor environmental events around the world soared into space this morning during a picture-perfect launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. The NOAA-L spacecraft lifted off on an Air Force-launched Titan II rocket. (NASA Photo of NOAA-L Launch)

Controllers successfully verified deployment of the solar array and a power positive condition on the satellite. NOAA-L is the second in a series of five polar-orbiting satellites with improved imaging and sounding capabilities that will operate over the next twelve years.

"We're extremely pleased with the success of the launch, and look forward to a successful mission for NOAA-L," said Mike Mignogno, NOAA's polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite manager.

Like other NOAA satellites, NOAA-L will collect meteorological data and transmit the information to users around the world to enhance weather forecasting. In the United States, the data will be used primarily by NOAA's National Weather Service for its long-range weather and climate forecasts.

NOAA-L was built by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co., Sunnyvale, Calif., and launched for NOAA under technical guidance and project management by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. NASA will turn operational control of the NOAA-L spacecraft over to NOAA 10 days after launch. NASA's comprehensive on-orbit verification period is expected to last until approximately 45 days after launch.

NOAA-16 SENDS FIRST IMAGE

An image from the country's newest environmental satellite is available online. The image is from NOAA-16, which was launched this morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., and named NOAA-L before launch.

The image is the first visible image received at NOAA's Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, Md., from NOAA-16 via High Resolution Picture Transmission (HRPT). The white area in the upper right is Greenland.

(Click image for larger view.) (Click here for another version of the first image from NOAA-16)

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's Office of Systems Development

See Video of the NOAA-L Launch

All About NOAA Satellites — Includes Real-Time Satellite Images

NOAA's Polar-Orbiting Weather Satellites

NOAA's Satellite Active Archive

Historical Significant Events Imagery — Online Satellite Image Archive

Polar Operational Environmental Satellites — NASA

Media Contacts:
Patricia Viets, NOAA Satellite Service, (301) 457-5005; Cynthia O'Carroll, NASA/GSFC, (301) 614-5563

 

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