Architecting the Future of Weather Satellites

Between 2014 and 2018, the NOAA Office of Systems Architecture and Advanced Planning (OSAAP) conducted the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study to plan the long-term future of the NOAA constellation of operational environmental satellites. This constellation of satellites (whic...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society 2021-03, Vol.102 (3), p.E589-E610
Main Authors: Maier, Mark W., Gallagher, Frank W., St. Germain, Karen, Anthes, Richard, Zuffada, Cinzia, Menzies, Robert, Piepmeier, Jeffrey, Di Pietro, David, Coakley, Monica M., Adams, Elena
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Architecture
Computer architecture
Cost analysis
Cost estimates
Instruments
Meteorological satellites
New technology
Remote sensing
Satellite constellations
Satellite observation
Satellite programs
Satellites
Spaceborne remote sensing
Weather forecasting
Work platforms
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Summary:Between 2014 and 2018, the NOAA Office of Systems Architecture and Advanced Planning (OSAAP) conducted the NOAA Satellite Observing System Architecture (NSOSA) study to plan the long-term future of the NOAA constellation of operational environmental satellites. This constellation of satellites (which may include space capabilities acquired in lieu of U.S. government satellites) will follow the current GOES-R and JPSS satellite programs, beginning about 2030. This was an opportunity to design a modern architecture with no preconceived notions regarding instruments, platforms, orbits, etc., but driven by user needs, new technology, and exploiting emerging space business models. In this paper we describe how the study was structured, review major results, show how observation priorities and estimated costs drove next-generation choices, and discuss important challenges for implementing the next generation of U.S. civil environmental remote sensing satellites.
ISSN:0003-0007
1520-0477
DOI:10.1175/BAMS-D-19-0258.1