https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 23.8 2026-04-29T10:52:37.449Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/platforms/4357816a-ede9-4a78-852c-fd6474671567 NOAA-13 NOAA-13 (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration) Weather Satellite:Objective:To continue the Advanced TIROS-N program by working as acompanion with NOAA-10, 11 and 12 in order to provide continuouscoverage of the Earth and to provide high-resolution globalmeteorological data.Description:The spacecraft was launched on August 9, 1993 at Vandenberg AirForce Base, California on board the Atlas E.The spacecraft was rectangularly shaped (166' long by 74' high)and powered by a 191' by 94' solar array. The satellite wasEarth oriented, three-axis stabilized and weighed approximately2200 pounds. NOAA-13 was the sixth operational satellite in theAdvanced TIROS-N series. The satellite carried the AVHRR, TOVS,and the solar proton monitor. All of which were present onprevious NOAA satellites. The ERBE instruments, the SBUVradiometer and the SARSAT systems were also flown on thissatellite.NOAA-13 was placed in a near circular, (470nm) polar orbit. Thespacecraft and its systems operated successfully for 12 daysuntil a circuit failure resulted in a power loss aboard thecraft. At this time the spacecraft is still in its polar orbit;however, no data is being received.Specifications:Prime contractor: GE AstroPlatform: evolved from NOAA 2nd generationMass at launch: 1420 kgMass in orbit: ~1050 kgDimension: 4.18 m long x 1.88 m diameterStabilization: 3-axisDesign lifetime: 3 yearsAPT downlink freq: 137.620 MHz (standby)HRPT downlink freq: 1698.0 MHzBeacon: 136.770 MHzPayload:AVHRR (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer:Wavebands:0.58-0.68 µm (visible): cloud, snow and ice monitoring0.725-1.10 µm (near IR): water, vegetation and agriculture surveys3.55-3.93 µm (near IR): sea surface temperature, volcano, forestfire activity 10.3-11.3 µm (thermal IR): sea surfacetemperature, soil moisture 11.3-12.5 µm (thermal IR): seasurface temperature, soil moisture Resolution: 1.1 km Swathwidth: 3000 kmTOVS (Tiros Operational Vertical Sounder):HIRS/2 (High Resolution IR Sounder): 20 channels in the 0.69 -14 - 95 µm band; 17.4 km resolutionSSU (Stratospheric Sounding Unit): step-scanned far IRspectrometer with 3 channels in the CO² absorption band (15µm);147.3 km resolutionMSU (Microwave Sounding Unit): passive 4-channel radiometeroperating around 55 GHz; 109 km resolutionPARTICIPANTS:NASA, USAF, ITT, Martin Marietta AstroSpace, Ball Aerospace,Marconi, JPL, Loral, NOAA, National Weather Service.[Summary provided by NOAA and The Satellite Encyclopedia]Group: Platform_Details Entry_ID: NOAA-13 Group: Platform_Identification Platform_Category: Earth Observation Satellites Platform_Series_or_Entity: NOAA POES (Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites) Short_Name: NOAA-13 Long_Name: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-13 End_Group Group: Synonymous_Platform_Names Short_Name: ATLES E End_Group Group: Platform_Associated_Instruments Short_Name: TOVS Short_Name: HIRS/2 Short_Name: MSU Short_Name: SSU End_Group Group: Orbit Period: 12 days End_Group Creation_Date: 2007-11-05 Online_Resource: http://www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/podug/html/c1/sec1-49.htm Sample_Image: http://www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/podug/images/guide/f149-3.gif Group: Platform_Logistics Launch_Date: 1993-08-09 Launch_Site: Vandenberg Air Force Base, USA Design_Life: 3-years Primary_Sponsor: NASA End_GroupEnd_Group