• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Weatherboy

Weatherboy Weather News, Maps, RADAR, Satellite, and Forecasts.

  • Local
  • Earth Science News
  • RADAR
  • Current Warnings
  • Satellite
  • Current Maps
  • Forecast Maps
  • Video

JPSS-1 Weather Satellite Launch Delayed

by Weatherboy Team Meteorologist - July 13, 2017

An illustration of the JPSS-1 satellite, including instruments and other key components. Image: NOAA, BATC
An illustration of the JPSS-1 satellite, including instruments and other key components. Image: NOAA, BATC

The Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS for short) launch has been pushed back to October 12, 2017. The launch was originally schedule for September 21, 2017. The launch is still expected to take place from Vandenburg Air Force Base in California.

According to Christi Hudgins of the Launch Operations team in the JPSS Program Office, there were two separate issues that arose that caused the delay of the launch. “First, a recently discovered reliability issue with a specific type of capacitor used on JPSS-1 spacecraft and instruments will require additional time for the JPSS Program to more completely assess the situation. This involves additional testing of spare parts and a comprehensive assessment of the JPSS-1 vulnerability to failures of these parts. These capacitors are being used on multiple non-NOAA satellite missions in addition to JPSS-1, and the NOAA/NASA team is working with our industrial and research aerospace partners to understand how this issue may have affected the on-orbit performance of other missions using the same capacitors.”


Alex Chernushin, the JPSS Program Manager, described in detail the rigorous testing procedure the JPSS will be put through in the months pre-launch. The tests that the will be put through involves putting the satellite and its instruments through extremely loud noises, a violent rocking and shaking test (both simulated the types of forces the satellite would experience in the rocket takeoff), extreme radiation levels (so this satellite would be able to withstand space weather events such as coronal mass ejections from the Sun) and even collisions from the ever-increasing problem of space junk. A failure of a part of the satellite is not unusual and is almost to be expected, Mr. Chernushin explained. He added that “it is far better to notice these errors here and now as compared to in the future when the satellite is in orbit.”


Ms. Hudgins described the second issue noticed as “electrical interference between the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) instrument and the spacecraft during the final thermal vacuum environmental test. This interference must be understood and corrected sufficiently to ensure the ATMS operates properly on-orbit.” Needed  fine-tuning of this instrument will lead to the JPSS to be ready for launch and operation when it is finally put into orbit.

Primary Sidebar

Sponsored Ad

Search

Latest News

  • Severe Storm and Flash Flood Threats Persist in Mid Atlantic
  • Chantal’s Remnants Push Flood Threat to New Jersey and Pennsylvania
  • Death Toll Rises as Major Federal Disaster Declaration Signed
  • Tropical Chantal Moves Inland, Soaking Mid Atlantic
  • Tropical Storm Warnings Issued as Chantal Approaches East Coast
  • Tropical Storm Watches Issued for East Coast as Tropical Depression Forms
  • System to Impact Southeast U.S. This Weekend Says National Hurricane Center
  • Hurricane Center Says East Coast System Likely to Develop
About | Careers | Contact | Contests
Terms | Privacy | Ad Choices
Weatherboy is a (R) Registered Trademark of isarithm LLC, All Rights Reserved.
All content herein is Copyright by Isarithm LLC 1997-2022