Launch Of Noaa N-prime Weather Satellite

[Jooster]

For anyone who is interested, the last in the current series of Polar Orbiting satellites operated by NOAA is scheduled for launch Wednesday 4th February at 10:22 UTC/GMT from Vandenburg Airforce Base in California.

I was part of the software development team involved in the design, implementation, and test of the on-board software of the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) which is one of the instruments onboard MetOp and NOAA meteorological satellites. MHS acquires measurements at various altitudes of atmospheric humidity, including rain, snow, hail and sleet, and temperature by measuring microwave radiation emitted from the surface of the Earth.

Two MHS instruments are currently in orbit on the NOAA-18 and MetOp-1 satellites.

More information on NOAA N-Prime is available here

The launch will be broadcast on the web here www.ulalaunch.com

[Jooster]

A better link for the launch is NASA TV

[Jooster]

Today's launch was aborted 20 minutes before lift-off due to a leak in the nitrogen purge valve on the launch vehicle.

The launch is scheduled to take place at the same time on Thursday 5th February 10:22 GMT. However the weather forecast for California is not good for the next few days.

The Delta II launch vehicle can only remain fuelled for 3 days apparently, after which it has to be de-fuelled and the the launch vehicle re-serviced (seals etc I think).

Will keep you posted!

[Waveform]

LOL, good for the 10:22GMT time frame. Makes it easier for me to catch it.

[Jooster]

Launch has been scrubbed again for the second day running!

More info here

Launch rescheduled for Friday at 10:22 GMT - available to watch on NASA TV