NOAA, NASA, and Northrop Grumman complete major testing for JPSS-2 before launch

nasaspaceflight.com ^ | August 17, 2022 | Lee Kanayama

[BenLurkin]

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), NASA, and Northrop Grumman have completed the final major test of the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS)-2 spacecraft ahead of its delivery to Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, for launch.

JPSS-2 is the second of four satellites in NOAA’s JPSS weather tracking constellation and will launch atop a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V 401 rocket in November — the final scheduled Atlas V flight from California.

The JPSS program is NOAA’s latest generation of polar-orbiting satellites that allow for continuous global observations for short- and long-term weather forecasts.

JPSS has its roots in NASA’s Television & Infra-Red Observation Satellite (TIROS)-1 satellite, which was the first weather and remote sensing satellite and the first NASA program to examine if satellites could be used to study the Earth from space.

JPSS-2 will launch on a ULA Atlas V 401 rocket no earlier than (NET) November 1, 2022. This Atlas V launch will mark the final flight of an Atlas-series rocket from California as well as the final flight of the rocket’s 4.2-meter fairing configuration.

Along with JPSS-2, Atlas V will carry the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID). LOFTID is a NASA demonstrator that will test an inflatable aerodynamic decelerator for future applications and use. ULA is partnering with NASA for the LOFTID program to use the technology on the company’s upcoming Vulcan rocket as a part of its SMART reuse system which envisions detaching Vulcan’s engine section for a splashdown recovery for reuse.

[markman46]

Well this just made my day will be able to the the flight from my house in Bakersfield after the rocket clears the mountains

[NWFree]

They’re always “weather” satellites 🛰