The National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS): Improved Capabilities for Weather Forecasting and Environmental Monitoring

In the next decade, weather forecasters, climate researchers, and decision-makers will rely on the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) to meet many of their needs for remotely-sensed, Earth science data and information. NPOESS spacecraft will be launched into two orbital planes beginning in 2013 to provide significantly improved operational capabilities and benefits to satisfy critical civil and national security requirements for space-based, remotely sensed environmental data.