Scott Nicholas
Raytheon provided a common ground system and a space sensor technology to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration‘s next-generation polar satellite that NASA launched Saturday from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
The company said Saturday its common ground system for the Joint Polar Satellite System and the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite sensor will function as mission-critical components of the JPSS-1 mission.
JPSS-1 satellite launched into space atop a United Launch Alliance-built Delta II rocket.
JPSS CGS comprises ground antennas and high-performance computers designed to aid mission planning and command-and-control operations in space, while the VIIRS sensor will work to gather imagery in 22 bands of light to help scientists monitor weather and climate patterns.
“Our latest generation Common Ground System has been fully operational since August, and it’s ready to support the new JPSS-1’s mission as part of the growing polar satellite constellation,” said Matt Gilligan, vice president of Raytheon’s navigation and environmental solutions unit.
The company noted VIIRS will capture data and JPSS CGS will process and distribute measurements of atmospheric temperature in addition to providing forecasting support for the weather satellite mission.
JPSS-1 will join its predecessor the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite in orbiting the Earth from pole-to-pole approximately 14 times a day to offer full global coverage and provide data for the U.S. weather forecast models.
