NASA launches satellite that will cross the equator 14 times a day

NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the launch of the satellite in

as part of the Joint Polar Satellite System-2 mission(JPSS-2). It will take place on November 1, 2022. During recent testing of an instrument designed to collect visible and infrared images, the team discovered and corrected a problem with its operation. However, the repairs resulted in an increase in the time required to complete thermal vacuum testing.

In the Visible Infrared Imaging RadiometerSuite, or VIIRS, experienced a problem with the test equipment during thermal vacuum testing. Engineers determined that the problems were caused by movement of the test equipment and temperature fluctuations. After changing the setup, the team retested the system and it showed excellent performance.

JPSS-2, the third satellite in the Joint Polar seriesSatellite System is slated to launch from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket. After successful entry into orbit, it will be renamed NOAA-21. It will continue the work of its predecessors, NOAA-20 (formerly JPSS-1) and the NOAA-NASA Suomi National Polar Orbiting Partnership (Suomi-NPP). The launch is managed by NASA's Launch Services Program (LSP), based at the Kennedy Space Center.

JPSS-2 will scan the globe in orbit fromNorth to South Pole, crossing the equator 14 times a day. From 824 km above Earth, it will collect data on weather forecasts, extreme weather events and climate change. VIIRS collects images for global observations of the earth, atmosphere, cryosphere and oceans.

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