The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) operates the nation’s system of weather satellites. Part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the NESDIS launches and controls satellites and collects data transmitted back to ground stations. Scientists, climatologists and weather forecasters use this information. Officials proposed renaming the agency to the National Environmental Satellite Service in the agency’s FY 2012 budget request to reflect a proposed transfer of data and information management archive activities to the new Climate Service line office.
The first U.S. weather satellite was developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) in the late 1950s. The satellite known as TIROS (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) was created to study meteorological events. The program was transferred to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1959, though the DoD continued developing its own weather satellite system that eventually evolved into the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP).
In 1960, NASA launched the second TIROS (TIROS-1) satellite tasked with continuous orbit of the north and south poles. The TIROS-1 provided forecasters with the first view of cloud patterns over North America. The satellite’s operations were later transferred to the Environmental Science Services Administration (ESSA), a precursor of the current National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
ESSA managed additional polar-orbiting research satellites launched in the 1960s. With each new satellite, new equipment was developed and tested, including optical lenses and transmission techniques. TIROS-8 directly relayed images to stations on the ground. TIROS-9 gave scientists the first complete daily coverage of the earth during the day, and in 1965, the Nimbus-1 satellite carried an infrared sensor that allowed scientists to observe space’s first nighttime images. The first operational weather satellite system was launched in 1966 with the ESSA-1 and ESSA-2 satellites that provided images to the American National Meteorological Center. These satellite images allowed scientists to better predict weather, including hurricanes.
The creation of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by President Richard Nixon in 1970 brought the nation’s weather satellite system into the new agency under two divisions: the National Environmental Satellite Service and the Environmental Data Service.
The NOAA launched the Improved TIROS Operational System (ITOS) in 1972; it provided day and night views of Earth’s cloud coverage, and simultaneous broadcasts of data and data storage so that observers on the ground could playback footage. ITOS also measured snow, ice, and sea surfaces and gathered temperature and moisture profiles daily.
The Applications Technology Satellite (ATS) was an important development in satellite technology as it orbited above the equator at an altitude of 22,235 miles, higher than previous satellites. At lower altitudes, satellites had to orbit the Earth more than once per day and thus did not hover over the same area of the Earth’s surface. The ATS could maintain the same position in orbit and keep continuous watch over Western Hemisphere weather.
The success of ATS led to collaboration between NASA and NOAA to launch of the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) program in the mid 1970s. By 1980, the fourth GOES satellite, GOES-4, provided scientists with continuous temperature and moisture data and allowed observation for cloud wind speed, direction and a better understanding of atmospheric circulation patterns. In 1982, NOAA consolidated the responsibilities of the National Environmental Satellite Service and the Environmental Data Service into the newly formed National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS).
The NESDIS has continued to manage the GOES system, which observes 60% of the Earth, measuring the planet’s atmosphere, surface, cloud cover, solar environments, and space. The eastern GOES satellite provides the best view of the area from Western Africa to the central part of the United States. The western satellite provides coverage from the central United States to Hawaii. Together, they offer a complete, continuous view of the United States.
In its 2012 budget request, the NESDIS requested a name change to the National Environmental Satellite Services due to a transfer of data collection to a proposed Climate Service line office in the NOAA.
A History of Environmental Satellite Systems
History of the NOAA satellite program (pdf)
The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS)
David Simonds Johnson: Ardent Champion of Satellite Technology
Located within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) launches and controls satellites and collects data transmitted back to ground stations. It manages the processing, distribution, and archiving of satellite data made available to researchers, planners, weather forecasters, and the general public.
The NESDIS operates two types of satellite systems: polar-orbiting environmental satellites (POES) and geostationary operational environmental satellite (GOES). Polar satellites follow North and South polar orbits of the Earth, collecting data on a daily basis for a variety of land, ocean, and atmospheric applications. Geostationary satellites provide continuous monitoring, circling the Earth at the equator at the same speed as the Earth’s rotation. These satellites are able to hover continuously over one position on the Earth’s surface. NESDIS operates 11 centers:
The NCDC maintains the world’s largest active archive of weather data. The center produces climate publications that provide data to interested parties. The center operates the World Data Center for Meteorology and the World Data Center for Paleoclimatology. The agency provides support to the nation’s six regional climate centers and state climatologists located throughout the United States.
National Geophysical Data Center
The NGDC, located in Boulder, Colorado, maintains hundreds of databases that house geophysical information about the earth, marine, and solar-terrestrial environments, as well as earth observations from space. The information is available to private industry, universities and research organizations, state and local governments, foreign countries, and the general public.
National Oceanographic Data Center
The NODC stores and disseminates global oceanographic data through its Oceanographic Data Archive. It preserves historical records of the Earth’s changing environment for ocean climate research and other applications. The center is a national repository and dissemination facility for global oceanic environmental data serving scientists, engineers, policy makers, and the public.
The Office of Systems Development (OSD) provides overall systems planning for NESDIS and NOAA including conceptual and detailed engineering, acquisition of major system elements, and coordinating the installation of the agency’s environmental satellite systems. The office also develops budget requests and manages funds for the agency.
Office of Satellite and Product Operations
This newly created office merges the duties of the Office of Satellite Operations and the Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution. The Office of Satellite Operations controls and manages satellites in orbit at the Satellite Operations Control Center in Suitland, Maryland. The Office of Satellite Data Processing and Distribution takes in and processes satellite data for national and international users.
STAR - Center for Satellite Applications and Research
STAR is the science arm of the agency that acquires and manages the agency’s satellites, conducts research and provides satellite data to the public.
In 2010, President Barack Obama announced a restructuring of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, giving dual responsibility of these satellites to NOAA and the DoD. NOAA became responsible for the afternoon polar environmental satellite orbit, while the DoD took responsibility for the early-morning orbit. The newly formed Joint Polar Satellite System will, along with the DoD’s Defense Weather Satellite System (DWSS), continue to collect and disseminate data related to weather, atmosphere, oceans, land, and near-space.
The office manages the latest geostationary satellite system under development. The Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite Series-R is scheduled to launch in 2014.
International & Interagency Affairs Office
The office works with other federal agencies and foreign governments on bilateral and multilateral cooperation projects. It also develops partnerships with space agencies in foreign countries.
Office of Space Commercialization
The office fosters economic growth and technological advancement of the U.S. commercial space industry and studies economic potential in satellite navigation, commercial remote sensing, space transportation, entrepreneurial "New Space" activities, and space-based solar power. The office also participates in governmental discussions of national space policy and other space-related issues.
Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs
Under the Land Remote Sensing Policy Act of 1992, no one in the United States can operate a private remote sensing satellite system without a license. This office is responsible for reviewing and auditing license holders to ensure they comply with federal law. The office also oversees companies selling satellite imagery so that they do not violate the 1996 Kyl-Bingaman Amendment, which protects the state of Israel from spying via satellites. See Revoke the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment, Already.
From the Web Site of the National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service
Annual Report (pdf)
International and Interagency Affairs
National Geophysical Data Center
The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) relies on aerospace corporations to provide weather satellites used by the agency. These companies perform functions ranging from research and development to design to construction of satellites. Aerospace companies that have held contracts with NOAA, the parent agency of NESDIS, for weather satellite services include: Lockheed Martin Corp.; Integral Systems, Inc.; Honeywell; Spectrum Astro; Carr Astronautics; Orbital Sciences Corp.; Northrop Grumman; Boeing Satellite Systems; Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp.; Raytheon; and Harris Corp.
In its 2013 budget request, the agency sought just over $2 billion, an increase of $617 million from 2010. Assignment of these funds includes $123,199 for Environmental Satellite Observing Systems, $67,898 for Data Centers and Information Services, and $199,901 for Corporate Services.
White House Restructures Satellite Program
In February 2011, the White House announced a major restructuring of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) that would put the program on a “more sustainable pathway.” The Administration announced that NOAA and the Air Force would no longer jointly plan the satellite system. The NOAA would be responsible for the afternoon polar satellite while the Air Force would take responsibility for the early morning orbit.
The move came after the program, aimed at gathering meteorological and other scientific data, was found to be behind schedule, over budget, and underperforming. The White House blamed the failures on a combination of “management deficiencies” resulting from conflicting perspectives and priorities among the NOAA, the Air Force and NASA, the three agencies that managed the program.
The Government Accountability Office has issued several reports on NPOESS. It found in 2005 that the satellite program was $3 billion over budget. A study requested by the National Academy of Sciences reported that many of the weather and climate instruments that the satellite was to have, were dropped to cut costs. After it was found to be over budget and fraught with technical and management problems, the program was restructured in 2006, triggering a congressionally mandated recertification that reduced the scale from six satellites to four. The first satellite was delayed until late 2014, more than five years after originally planned. The setbacks have important implications for American scientists trying to track climate changes, such as global warming. If delays continue, some experts warned of a “collapse” of the nation’s weather satellite system.
Restructuring the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
Cutbacks Impede Climate Studies (by Marc Kaufman, Washington Post)
- Table of Contents
- Overview
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