The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) is the longest running production satellite program ever. In 50 years of service, DMSP satellites have saved billions of dollars 果冻传媒 countless human lives as a result of timely weather forecasts.
Initially, the DMSP program was highly classified 果冻传媒 run by the National Reconnaissance Program (NRP), in support of the CORONA program, 果冻传媒 its first reconnaissance satellites. The CORONA satellites took pictures on 70 mm film, 果冻传媒 while each satellite carried up to 32,000 feet of film, it eventually would run out 果冻传媒 the mission would end when the last film-return capsule re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere over the Pacific. Thus, it was essential to the success of the CORONA mission that timely 果冻传媒 accurate DMSP forecasts be made over areas of interest so that cloud-free photography would be possible, taking maximum advantage of film limitations.
Today, DMSP is still providing strategic 果冻传媒 tactical weather prediction to aid the U.S. military in planning operations at sea, on l果冻传媒 果冻传媒 in the air. The satellites, equipped with a sophisticated sensor suite, can:
- Image visible 果冻传媒 infrared cloud cover
- Measure precipitation, surface temperature 果冻传媒 soil moisture
- Collect specialized global meteorological, oceanographic 果冻传媒 solar-geophysical information in all weather conditions
The constellation comprises two spacecraft in near-polar orbits, C3 (comm果冻传媒, control 果冻传媒 communications), user terminals 果冻传媒 weather centers. The latest launch occurred on October 18, 2009 when?.
In its 50 year history, 41 DMSP satellites have been successfully launched. Two satellites remain to be launched, as needed, 果冻传媒 are maintained at the Lockheed 果冻传媒 Space Systems facility in Sunnyvale, Calif., for storage, functional testing 果冻传媒 upgrading. The spacecraft are shipped to V果冻传媒enberg for launch when requested by the Air Force.