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NOAA-N, the fourth in the series of advanced TIROS-N (ATN) satellites was successfully launched from Vandenberg AFB, CA by a two-stage Delta II launch vehicle on May 20, 2005.
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The spacecraft will continue to provide a polar-orbiting platform to support (1) environmental monitoring instruments for imaging and measuring the Earth's atmosphere, its surface, and cloud cover, including Earth radiation, atmospheric ozone, aerosol distribution, sea surface temperature, and vertical temperature and water profiles in the troposphere and stratosphere; (2) measurement of proton and electron flux at orbit altitude; (3) data collection from remote platforms; and (4) the Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) system.
Additionally, NOAA-N is the fourth in the series of support dedicated microwave instruments for the generation of temperature, moisture, surface, and hydrological products in cloudy regions where visible and infrared (IR) instruments have decreased capability.
The Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) is a new instrument onboard NOAA-N, replacing the AMSU-B. The spacecraft carries a HIRS/4; instead of the HIRS/3 flown by NOAA-KLM.
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| MAIN SPACECRAFT DESIGN ELEMENTS |
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| Mission Life |
Greater than 2 years |
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| Dimensions |
Length
4.19 m (13.75 ft.) long
Width
1.88 m (6.2 ft.) diameter |
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Weight
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At lift-off
1419.8 kg (3130 lbs.)
* Weight includes 4.1 kg (9 lbs.) of liquid nitrogen
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| Solar Array |
2.73 by 6.14 m (8.96 by 20.16 ft.);
16.76 m2 (180.63 ft.2) |
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Load Power
Requirements |
833 watts for 0° sun angle,
750 watts for 80° sun angle |
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