https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 23.7 2026-04-15T10:53:30.610Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/platforms/7441d55f-26c8-4f7f-ad75-1402c6a6e470 NOAA-15 NOAA 15, also known as NOAA-K before launch, was an operational,polar orbiting, meteorological satellite operated by the National Oceanic andAtmospheric Administration (NOAA). It was the latest in the AdvancedTIROS-N (ATN) series and the design was based on the DefenseMeteorological Satellite Program (DMSP). Launched by the Titan II rocketfrom Vandenberg AFB, NOAA-K replaced the decommissioned NOAA 12in an afternoon equator-crossing orbit. It provided support to environmentalmonitoring by complementing the NOAA/NESS geostationarymeteorological satellite program (GOES). Instruments were flown forimaging and measurement of the Earth's atmosphere, its surface, and cloudcover, including Earth radiation, atmospheric ozone, aerosol distribution, seasurface temperature, vertical temperature and water profiles in thetroposphere and stratosphere; measurement of proton and electron flux atorbit altitude, and remote platform data collection, and for SARSAT. Theyincluded (1) an improved six-channel Advanced Very High ResolutionRadiometer/3 (AVHRR/3); (2) an improved High Resolution InfraredRadiation Sounder (HIRS/3); (3) the Search and Rescue Satellite AidedTracking System (S&R), which consists of the Search and RescureRepeater (SARR) and the Search and Rescue Processor (SARP-2); (4) theFrench/CNES-provided improved ARGOS Data Collection System (DCS-2);and (5) the Advanced Microwave Sounding Units (AMSUs), which replacedthe previous MSU and SSU instruments to become the first in the NOAAseries to support dedicated microwave measurements of temperature,moisture, surface and hydrological studies in cloudy regions where visibleand infrared instruments have decreased capability.Additional Information:http://www2.ncdc.noaa.gov/docs/intro.htmTo view a 3D orbit, observe the J track satellite tracking web page:http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/RealTime/JTrack/NOAA-K CHARACTERISTICSMain Body: 4.2m long, 1.88m diameterSolar Array: 2.73 by 6.14 mWeight: At liftoff 2231.7 kg (includes 756.7 kg of expendable fuel)Lifetime: Greater than 2 yearsLoad Power Requirements: 833 Watts for 0 degree sun angle 750 Watts for 80 degree sun angleOrbital Characteristics- Orbital Period: 101.20 m Inclination: 98.70 degrees Periapsis: 808.00 km Apoapsis: 824.00 kmInformation was adopted from NSSDC Master Catalog and the J TrackLiftoff web pages.Group: Platform_Details Entry_ID: NOAA-15 Group: Platform_Identification Platform_Category: Earth Observation Satellites Platform_Series_or_Entity: NOAA POES (Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites) Short_Name: NOAA-15 Long_Name: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration-15 End_Group Group: Platform_Associated_Instruments Short_Name: AMSU-B Short_Name: AMSU-A End_Group Group: Orbit Orbit_Altitude: 807 km Orbit_Inclination: 98.5 deg Period: 101.1 End_Group Creation_Date: 2007-11-07 Online_Resource: http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/spacecraftStatusSummary.asp?spacecraft=15 Group: Platform_Logistics Launch_Date: 1998-05-13 Primary_Sponsor: NASA End_GroupEnd_Group