NOAA 16 Image of Northeast US

Provided by: NOAA
Summary authors & editors: NASA/GSFC Landsat Program; Martin Ruzek

The nation's newest polar-orbiting environmental satellite, NOAA-16, has successfully completed a comprehensive, on-orbit verification by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. The satellite, launched for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), was turned over to NOAA on November 6. After NOAA checks out the data processing systems, the satellite will be placed into operations. This is expected to take place in early January.

NOAA-16, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on September 21, will improve weather forecasting and monitor environmental events around the world. It is the second in a series of five polar-orbiting satellites with improved imaging and sounding capabilities that will operate over the next ten years.

The brilliant false color panorama of the eastern US above was acquired on September 27, 2000 as part of the early on-orbit checkout of NOAA 16 systems.

Related Links:

• NOAA Operational Significant Event Imagery
• Polar Operational Environment Satellite Page