Launch of NOAA-M Satellite

NOAA-17 Instruments Deployed Successfully; NASA Turns Satellite Over to NOAA

The nation's newest polar-orbiting environmental satellite, NOAA-17, was turned over to the Commerce Department's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration from Goddard on July 14.

NOAA-17, launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on June 24, will improve weather and climate forecasting and monitor environmental events around the world. It is the third in a series of five polar-orbiting satellites with improved imaging and sounding capabilities that will operate over the next 10 years.

NOAA and NASA report that all post-launch spacecraft subsystem and instrument deployments were successful. All instruments have been turned on and detailed analysis of data from the entire spacecraft continues, with no major anomalies identified. The on-orbit verification testing primarily focused on instrument calibration will continue through approximately 45 days after launch. About 30 days after that, the satellite will be declared operational.

"The NOAA-17 satellite is working beautifully," said Karen Halterman, NASA's project manager for the polar-orbiting operational environmental satellite program.

For more on NOAA - 17 deployment, go to: http://www.gsfc.nasa.gov/topstory/20020624noaam.html