Advanced TIROS-N (ATN) NOAA Polar Orbiters
(http://140.90.207.25:8080/EBB/ml/polar.html)
- The NOAA Polar Orbiter (Advanced Television Infrared Observation Satellite
(TIROS)-N) is a three-axis-stabilized spacecraft that are launched into an
830-870 km, circular, near-polar, sun synchronous orbit. The circular orbit
permits uniform data acquisition by the satellite and efficient command control
of the satellite by CDA stations located near Fairbanks, AK, and Wallops Island, VA.
- Advanced instruments measure parameters of the Earth's atmosphere, its surface
and cloud cover (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR))
, solar protons, positive ions, electron-flux density, and the energy
spectrum at the satellite altitude. As a part of the series mission, the spacecraft
also can receive, process, and retransmit data from Search and Rescue beacon transmitters
(not aboard NOAA-12), free-floating balloons, buoys, and remote automatic observation
stations distributed around the globe. The polar operational system consists of two
satellites in Sun-synchronous orbits, one in a morning orbit at 833 km and one in an afternoon orbit at 870 km.
- Main Characteristics of NOAA-12 and NOAA-14
- ---------------------------------------------------------
- Dimensions : Module type with deployable solar paddle (one wing)
- Main Body: 3.71m Long, 1.88m Diameter (NOAA-12)
- 4.18m Long, 1.88m Diameter (NOAA-14)
- Solar Array: 2.37m x 4.91 m, 11.6 m^2
- Weight : NOAA-12: 1418 kg at lift-off, 735 kg on orbit
- NOAA-14: 1712 kg at lift-off, 1030 kg on orbit
- Attitude Control: Three-axis stabilized
- Design life : Greater than 2 Years
- ---------------------------------------------------------
- Launch Vehicle : ATLAS-E (NOAA-12 Fairing: 6.86m long, 2.13m diameter)
- (NOAA-14 Fairing: 7.42 m long, 2.13 m diameter)
- Launch Site : Vandenberg AFB, CA
- Launch Date : NOAA-12: May 14, 1991; NOAA-14: December 30, 1994
- ---------------------------------------------------------
- Orbit Type : Sun Synchronous
- Approximate Parameters
- Altitude : NOAA-12: 833 km Morning; NOAA-14: 870 km Afternoon
- Inclination : NOAA-12: 98.7 deg; NOAA-14: 98.86 deg
- Period : NOAA-12: 101.35 min; NOAA-14: 102.12 min
- Local time at descending node : NOAA-12: 0730 am; NOAA-14: 0140 am
- ---------------------------------------------------------
- Sensors : Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)
- TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder System (TOVS)*:
- Statospheric Sounding Unit (SSU)*
- High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS/2)
- Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU)
- Space Environment Monitor (SEM)
- Search and Rescue (SAR) Instruments (Repeater and Memory)*
- ARGOS/Data Collection System (DCS)
-
- *- Not Aboard the NOAA-12 Spacecraft
CREDITS: Information obtained from NASA-NOAA Pamphlet "NOAA-J." For additional information regarding
the NOAA Polar satellites, try the Polar Orbiter Data User's Guide.
Satellite Information Team (satinfo@ssd.wwb.noaa.gov)
Revised: 21 August 1996