Latest Defense Meteorological Satellite Program Stories
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Fifty years ago, a small weather satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Calif. It was the first in a series that would later become known as the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP), spanning 41 successful launches over a half-century, with two satellites still remaining to be sent into space. All were launched from VAFB into near-polar orbits allowing them to image the entire...
Data products from the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) developed by the NRL Spacecraft Engineering Department and Space Science Division were officially transitioned for use in operational systems at the Air Force Weather Agency (AFWA) on June 9, 2011.After extensive validation of the SSULI sensor software and derived atmospheric specification, the Air Force Weather Agency received a formal letter from the Defense Weather Systems Directorate (DWSD) at the Air Force Space and...
AURORA, Colo., June 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- A Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) team successfully completed the third major communications upgrade at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, in support of future scientific and environmental satellite missions. McMurdo is the largest of the three, year-round U.S.-Antarctic Program research stations. The National Science Foundation (NSF) manages the U.S.-Antarctic Program through which it coordinates all U.S. scientific research on the continent in addition...
The Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) developed by NRL's Spacecraft Engineering Department and Space Science Division, launched October 18, 2009 on the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F18 (flight 18) satellite, observed first light on December 1, 2009.In a sample airglow profile the spectral emission features in the data are clean and show no anomalies."The SSULI team is very excited to continue with early orbit testing and begin the...
Launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., aboard an United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle, Oct. 18, 2009, the Special Sensor Ultraviolet Limb Imager (SSULI) developed by NRL's Space Science Division and Spacecraft Engineering Department offers a first of its kind technique for remote sensing of the ionosphere and thermosphere from space.Flying on-orbit the U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F18 (flight 18) satellite, SSULI's characterization of the...
VANDENBERG AFB, Calif., Oct. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-18 Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built under contract for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), was launched this morning from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. at 9:12 am PDT. "After several years of building, integrating, upgrading and testing DMSP F-18, our third Block 5D-3 spacecraft, it was enormously satisfying to see this morning's launch and hear that we have a healthy...
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif., Oct 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Adding to the Atlas rocket program's accomplished five decade legacy, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V successfully launched the U.S. Air Force's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program F18 (DMSP F18) mission from Space Launch Complex-3 here at 9:12 a.m. PDT, today. The DMSP F18 spacecraft was built for the Air Force by Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company in Sunnyvale, Calif. This mission marked the 600th launch of an Atlas...
VANDENBERG AFB, Calif., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) F-18 Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built under contract for the U.S. Air Force by Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT), is undergoing final preparation for a launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif. on October 18, 2009. "After several years of building, integrating, upgrading and testing DMSP F-18, our third Block 5D-3 spacecraft, we're eagerly anticipating this launch so that this satellite can carry...
SUNNYVALE, Calif., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire/ -- The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Flight 16 (F16) Block 5D-3 spacecraft, built by Lockheed Martin , has surpassed five years of on-orbit operations and continues to provide critical weather data to the warfighter, one year beyond its four year design life. The DMSP constellation is built under contract for the U.S. Air Force and is operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As a result of the...
