The National Polar-orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite System
(NPOESS)
Program Overview
NOAA/NESDIS Cooperative Research Program
(CoRP)
Carl Hoffman
NPOESS Integrated Program Office
Fort Collins, Colorado
August 15, 2006
Tri-agency Effort to Leverage and Combine
Environmental Satellite Activities
Mission
• Provide a national, operational, polarorbiting remote-sensing capability
METOP
NPOESS
NPOESS
• Achieve National Performance Review
(NPR) savings by converging DoD and
NOAA satellite programs
• Incorporate new technologies from
NASA
0530
M
0930
1330
• Encourage International Cooperation
Local Equatorial Crossing
Time
NPOESS Program August 2006
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2
NPOESS
EXCOM
ENVIRONMENTAL
SATELLITE
PEO (*)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PEO Staff
3
DPEO (*)
Senior Policy/Plans
Chief Scientist
Chief Engineer
Senior NASA
Senior NOAA
Senior DoD
Budget Officer
SUAG Rep
4
1
2
2
4
4
POES
SPD
NPOESS
SPD
ATP
DIR
OPS
DIR
DMSP
SPD
NPP
PROJ DIR
GS-15
(NOAA)
O-6
(AF)
GS-15
(NASA)
GS-15
(NOAA)
O-6
(AF)
GS-15
(NASA)
* PEO, DPEO are rotational
• Initial: PEO – DOD (Flag/SES) ; DPEO – DoC (Flag/SES)
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Nunn-McCurdy Certification
Why? Program acquisition cost estimates grew more than 25% above the program of
record
By law, required certification to Congress in order to continue the program
Four questions to answer:
•
•
•
•
Are the requirements valid?
Do alternatives exist for less money and equivalent capability?
Is there a valid cost estimate?
Is there an adequate management structure in place?
Five-month, tri-agency process
NPOESS Program August 2006
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4
Nunn-McCurdy Results
June 5, 2006: Program certified to Congress
Revised program content: Two EMD satellites and two production satellites, in two orbits
De-manifested secondary sensors, kept sensors that satisfied key performance
parameters
Continued full-sized bus, preserving ability to add non-manifested sensors if funding
becomes available
Provides measured, achievable development timeline
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Nunn-McCurdy Results
Requirements revalidated by Joint Requirements Oversight Council, with DOC and NASA
representatives
Reduced requirements set for µ-wave imager
•
•
•
Given requirements change, directed that current CMIS procurement stop
Government team will investigate way forward on µ-wave imager
First µ-wave imager targeted for second NPOESS satellite
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Certified NPOESS Program
Overview
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AM
06
CALENDAR YEAR
07
08
09
10
11
F13
12
13
14
15
F19
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17
18
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21
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23
24
C4
F20
F17
C2
25
End of Constellation Service Life:
2026+
M
mid-AM
F16
F18
Metop A
Metop C
Metop D
Metop B
C3
PM
N
AQUA
N’
C1
NPP
Sensor Configuration
Description
Core Sensors
• AM: VIIRS, Microwave Image/Sounder,
SARSAT
• PM: VIIRS, Microwave Imager/Sounder
(C3), SARSAT, CrIS, ATMS,
ADCS, CERES (C1),OMPS-Nadir,
SEM, ACDS
Non-manifested Sensors
APS, ALT, TSIS, OMPS-Limb, ERBS, Full
SESS, SUSS
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•
•
NPOESS Program August 2006
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•
NPOESS bus sized to carry full sensor configuration
Constellation of 2 EMD and 2 Production satellites
Terminate CMIS; Compete new Microwave Imager/Sounder starting
with C2
NOAA/NASA forecasting models and selected climate continuity
preserved
Restructuring of NGST contract required; Renegotiation of NGST fee
All secondary sensor integration planned and budgeted for
DoD will lose day/night imagery in mid-AM for up to 8 years Gap
duration contingent upon satellite performance
Contractor and government management continuity preserved
Carl Hoffman
7
NPOESS Program August 2006
Carl Hoffman
9
NPOESS Program August 2006
Carl Hoffman
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NPOESS Top Level Architecture
GPS
NPP(1330)
NPOESS
1330
NPOESS
1730
Low Rate Data/
High Rae Data
(LRD/HRD)
Space
Segment
Command
& Control
Segment
Alternate MMC
at Schriever AFB
METOP
2130
Field
Terminal Segment
Svalbard
15 Globally Distributed
Receptor Sites
FNMOC
Data Quality
SMD/HRD
LRD
Data Latency
SMD
HRD/LRD
Data Availability
CLASS
ADS
AFWA
NESDIS/NCEP
Interface Data Processing Segment
Mission Management
Center (MMC)
at Suitland
NPP Data & Control Flow
NAVOCEANO
NPP Science Data Segment
NPOESS Data & Control Flow
CLASS
NOAA Comprehensive Large
Array Data Stewardship System
ADS
NPP Archive & Distribution Seg
128 attributes above, 724 at, 7 below threshold
305 attributes above, 180 at, 0 below threshold
Threshold
Objective
Operational Availability
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Greatly Improved Timeliness
Today’s 180 minutes to less than 28 minutes with NPOESS
Average Data Latency
Latency (minutes)
NPOESS Program August 2006
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12
NPOESS EDR Processing Timeline
Percent of EDR Products Delivered
End-to-End EDR Latency
100%
90%
95% of data delivered within 28 min
80%
70%
60%
> 77% of data delivered within 15 min
50%
40%
Average < 10.5 min
30%
20%
Earliest Data Delivered < 2 min
10%
0%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
50
Time from Observation to Delivery (minutes)
NPOESS Program August 2006
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13
NPOESS Satellite and Sensors
1330
1730
NPP
X
X
X
MIS
C2- 4
X
CrIS
X
X
ATMS
X
X
SEM
X
OMPS
X
ADCS
X
X
SARSAT
X
X
CERES
C1
VIIRS
ERBS
X
C2-4
Single Satellite Design with Common Sensor Locations and “ring” Data
Bus Allows Rapid Reconfiguration and Easy Integration
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Development Sensor Highlights
Visible/Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS)
Raytheon Santa Barbara Remote Sensing
• 0.4 km imaging and 0.8 km radiometer resolution
• 22 spectral bands covering 0.4 to 12.5 mm
• Automatic dual VNIR and triple DNB gains
• Spectrally and radiometrically calibrated
• EDR-dependent swath widths of 1700, 2000, and 3000 km
Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS)
ITT Fort Wayne
• 158 SWIR (3.92 to 4.64 mm) channels
• 432 MWIR (5.71 to 8.26 mm) channels
• 711 LWIR (9.14 to 15.38 mm) channels
• 3x3 detector array with 15 km ground center-to-center
• 2200 km swath width
Microwave Imager/Sounder (MIS) (NOTIONAL-UNDER REVIEW)
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•
•
•
•
NPOESS Program August 2006
2.2 m antenna
RF imaging at 6, 10, 18, 36, 90, and 166 GHz
Profiling at 23, 50 to 60, 183 GHz
Polarimetry at 10, 18, 36 GHz
1700 km swath width
Carl Hoffman
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Development Sensor Highlights (cont.)
Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS)
Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems
• CrIS companion cross track scan
• Profiling at 23, 50 to 57, 183 GHz
• Surface measurements at 31.4, 88, 165 GHz
• 1.1, 3.3, and 5.2 deg (SDRs resampled)
• 2300 km swath width
Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS)
(NADIR ONLY)
Ball Aerospace
• Total ozone column 300 to 380 nm with 1.0 nm resolution
• Nadir ozone profile 250 to 310 nm with 1.0 nm resolution
• Swath width of 2800 km for total column
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Highlights of Other Sensors
Advanced Data Collection System (ADCS) and Search
and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT)
•
•
•
NPOESS Program August 2006
“GFE” to NPOESS from France and Canada
ADCS supports global environmental applications
SARSAT collects distress beacon signals
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C3S Segment Design
GS Element
Legend:
DRR Element
C3S
SMD
T&C
SMD
IDPS
Backup
DRR SMD data handling
and front-end processing
at Central
Space
Segment
AMMC
15
Receptors
NPOESS
HRD/LRD
Monitor
Enterprise management
SMD
DRR
interface
and routing
Data monitor
and recovery
S-TLM
Stored telemetry
analysis
CMD
CMD/
TLM
Svalbard
NPP
TDRS
DRR T&C
front-end
processing
at MMC
Mission Management
Center (MMC)
Element
Satellite operations
TLM
Computers,
storage, and
networks
TLM/CMD
Ground
operations
Flight vehicle
simulator
Orbit
operations
Mission
management
WSC
SafetyNet C3S provides low-cost, reliable, and timely data delivery with
the flexibility needed for low-cost system growth and technology insertion
NPOESS Program August 2006
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IDPS Functional Diagram
SDR/TDR
Generation
Ingest
Subsystem
DRR
SMD
Auxiliary
Data
Ancillary
Data
Ancillary
Data
Ingest
Sensor Data
Ingest
Auxiliary
Data
Ingest
Ancillary
Data
Distribute
RDR
SDR
Ancil
Auxil
SDR
All Internal
Data Types
Ancil
xDR Data
External
Formatted
Data
Data Management
Subsystem
Process
Directives
Processing
Status & Control
DQM
Subsystem
Production and infrastructure management
Communication services and utilities
Infrastructure Subsystem
LUTs
IDP Operator
NPOESS Program August 2006
Data Delivery
Subsystem
Data formatted to
Centrals External Format
On-Line
Data Storage
Ancil
Data
Requests
EDR
All Internal
Data Types
Auxil
Work Flow
Initiation
Scheduling Processing
Coordination
Schedule
Processing
History
Tool Kits
Cache Data Mgmt Service
Ancillary Data
Other
IDPs
C3S
RDR
Processing
Subsystem
EDR
Generation
Centrals
ADS
SDS
CLASS
C3S
NPOESS
Enterprise Management
Status and Control
CCB/Ingest
Cal/Val
Operator
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Field Terminals
An integral part of NPOESS
SMD
C3S
Space Vehicle 2
Space Vehicle 1
Sensors
Sensors
Bus
Ground
Receptor
Ground
Station
CONUS
Gateways
(4x)
C3S
DHN &
FEP
(@ IDPS)
SMD
Mission
Management
Center
IDP
@
Centrals
Centrals
Users
Science
Users
IDPS
Deliver Data
Products
Stored Mission Data flow for
Centrals, Science Users
HRD
LRD
Field
Terminal
Software
Field Terminals (LRD, HRD)
SARSAT, ADCS
Terminals
NPOESS Program August 2006
Tactical
Users
Deliver Data
Products
HRD, LRD Data flow for
Tactical Users
Carl Hoffman
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Real-Time Operational Demonstrations
NPP (FY10)
Coriolis (FY03)
MIS
METOP (FY06) CrIS/ATMS & VIIRS NPOESS (FY13)
Aqua (FY02)
AIRS/AMSU/HSB & MODIS
IASI/AMSU/MHS & AVHRR
CrIS/ATMS, VIIRS, MIS, OMPS
Use of Advanced Sounder Data for Improved
Weather Forecasting/Numerical Weather Prediction
NOAA Real-Time Data Delivery Timeline
Ground Station Scenario
C3S
IDPS
NOAA
Real-time
User
NWS/NCEP
ECMWF
UKMO
FNMOC
NWP
Forecasts
Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation
NPOESS Program August 2006
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WindSat Observes Hurricane Isabel
NPOESS Program August 2006
NRL and NOAA/NESDIS/ORA
Proof-of-performance for NPOESS’ CMIS
September 14, 2003
Carl Hoffman
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Improved Sensor Technology Provides
New Weather Insights
Increased spectral availability allows discrimination of tough weather problems
DMSP/POES
OLS / AVHRR
1 vis band
1 to 5 IR bands
NPOESS
VIIRS
[MODIS Simulation]
9+ VIS/NIR bands
Dust cloud
Over sand
Urban
details
Littoral
details
Snow
Smoke plume
Contrail
12 IR bands
Clouds
Tough Problems
Solved
Yemen Oil Tanker Attack:
10/06/02
Gray shades
Low Clouds
True color
NPOESS Program August 2006
Snow
Tanker
Smoke
Plume
High Clouds
Carl Hoffman
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Coincident Advanced Sensors Provide Synergy
- Sum of the Parts is FAR greater than individual sensors NPOESS
Multispectral Imagery
From VIRRS…
…combined with ATMS/MIS
Microwave EDRs…
… Supports Improved Tropical Cyclone Forecast
Accuracy & Reduced Impact on Maritime Users
NPOESS Program August 2006
Carl Hoffman
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Advanced Sensors Critical for Ocean Predictions
- Multiple sensors working together Operational
Global
Ocean
Modeling
VIIRS
Regional Scale
Modeling & Assimilation
Sea Surface Height (SSH)
Modular Ocean Data
Assimilation System (MODAS)
Sea Surface Temperature (SST)
Wave & Surf
NPOESS EDRs— SST—will be Critical,
Modeling /Assimilation
Fundamental Components of Ocean Analysis and
Prediction Capability
Bathymetry &
Gravity
Warfare Applications
Tide Modeling
Active & Passive
Acoustic Propagation Predictions
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Advanced Imagery Improves Discrimination
What your naked eye sees
True Color Background
Reference
Indus River Valley
Pakistan
Next day, we see clouds
and possible dust fronts
Dust front discrimination made easy
with multi-spectral processing
500m Dust
Enhancement
True Color Dust Event
Indus River Valley
Pakistan
Indus River Valley
Pakistan
DUST FRONTs ?
YES
[three]
DUST FRONT ?
DUST FRONT ?
NO
[veg edge]
Processed Imagery Courtesy of Meteorology Satellite Applications Section, NRL/Monterey
NPOESS Program August 2006
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NPOESS-GOES-R AT AMS 2007
American Meteorological Society
3rd Annual Symposium
Future National Operational
Environmental Satellites
The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
(NPOESS)
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series (GOES-R),
January 16-17, 2007
San Antonio, Texas
NPOESS Program August 2006
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NPOESS Program Office
Web Sites
NPOESS Website
• http://npoess.noaa.gov
POLAR MAX 2006
• 24-26 OCT 2006
• http://npoess.noaa.gov/polarmax
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Back-up
VIIRS Characteristics
NPOESS Program August 2006
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VIIRS at a Glance
VIIRS: Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite
VIIRS will continue the observational program of OLS, AVHRR, SeaWiFS & MODIS
VIIRS will provide operational and research users with:
• Spectral coverage from 412 nm to 12 microns in 22 bands
– Imagery at 371 m nadir resolution in 5 bands
– Moderate resolution (~742 m at nadir) radiometric quality data
• Complete global daily coverage with a single sensor
• 8-hour refresh in the NPOESS constellation (ca 2011)
Routine data products of:
• Cloud cover, cloud layers
• Cloud and aerosol physical properties
• Land & ocean biosphere properties
• Fire detection, snow & ice
• Sea Surface Temperature
• Land & Ice Surface Temperatures
NPOESS Program August 2006
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VIIRS Produces 25
Environmental Data Records (EDRs)
VIIRS Algorithm Subsystem provides software that, when
combined with VIIRS sensor data, allows the VIIRS system to
produce the following EDRs:
. Imagery EDR
. Aerosol Optical Thickness EDR
. Aerosol Particle Size Parameter EDR
. Suspended Matter EDR
. Sea Surface Temperature EDR
. Land Surface Temperature EDR
. Ice Surface Temperature EDR
. Active Fires EDR
. Surface Albedo EDR
. Soil Moisture EDR
. Vegetation Index EDR
. Surface Type EDR
. Cloud Base Height EDR
NPOESS Program August 2006
. Cloud Cover/Layers EDR
. Cloud Effective Particle Size EDR
. Cloud Optical Thickness EDR
. Cloud Top Temperature EDR
. Cloud Top Pressure EDR
. Cloud Top Height EDR
. Net Heat Flux EDR
. Ocean Color/Chlorophyll EDR
. Fresh Water Ice EDR
. Snow Cover/Depth EDR
. Sea Ice Age/Edge Motion EDR
. Precipitable Water EDR
•Cloud Types
Carl Hoffman
31
VIIRS Design is
Evolutionary from MODIS
Spatial resolution & mtf improved
• 371m & 742 m at nadir, reduced pixel growth
Improved stray light control with Rotating telescope
Added “day-night” band for cross-terminator imaging
Higher orbit yields full global coverage in one day
Comparable radiometric & spectral quality
• 12 bit data
• Equivalent on-board calibrators
• Characterization equivalent to Aqua MODIS
• Bandpasses widened with no loss of specificity
Bandset reduced from 36 to 22
• Does not impact land products
• MODIS supported research products not yet proven for operational purposes
– Ocean Fluorescence, CO2 “slicing bands”, Ozone
NPOESS Program August 2006
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Reduced Pixel Growth
0.75km
1.6km
1.1km
0.75km
Fine-Resolution
Imaging ‘I’ Bands
1.2km
1.6km
Moderate-Resolution
(“Radiometric”) ‘M’
Bands
SNR predicted and specified at worst-case edge of scan: ~60% better nadir SNR
MODIS pixel growth rate will be the same as AVHRR
NPOESS Program August 2006
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MODIS Vegetative Index
10/30/2003
Near Nadir
Toward Edge of Scan
1
1
2
2
Terra 1950 UTC
3
Aqua 2125 UTC
3
Pre-Launch & On-Orbit Calibration
Intensive MODIS-like pre-launch characterization & calibration
Solar Diffuser (SD) calibration every terminator crossing
Solar Diffuser Stability Monitor (SDSM) to track SD degradation
On-Board Black Body Calibrator (OBC) viewed every scan (1.7864 seconds)
Post-launch validation will draw upon other agencies & the general scientific
community
NPOESS Program August 2006
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