BackForward Satellite: NOAA-18 

Satellite details
Acronym NOAA-18
Full name National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - 18
WIGOS Station Identifier ---
Satellite Description
  • 4th flight unit of NOAA 5th generation.
  • Main mission: operational meteorology.
  • Significant contribution to atmospheric chemistry and space weather.
Mass at launch 2232 kg Dry mass 1479 kg
Power 833 W
Data access link https://www.bou.class.noaa.gov/saa/products/welcome
Data access information
  • Real time availability of AMSU-A, AMSU-B, AVHRR/3, HIRS/3, DCP and SEM/2 (MEDEP + TED) by HRPT, WEFAX and DSB.
  • Deferred time access to GAC and LAC from CLASS.
  • Alert messages of S&RSAT to LUT in real time.
  • Note: The link below is to the NOAA-KLM User's Guide.
  • http://ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/pod-guide/ncdc/docs/klm/index.htm
Orbit Sunsynchronous orbit Altitude 854 km
ECT 10:34 desc

 

Space agency NOAA , NASA
Status Inactive
Details on Status
(as available)
  • The ECT, initially 13:30 asc, is drifting at a rate of 3.52 min/month.
  • Reduced gyros since 9 September 2017.
  • Satellite and instrument statusĀ here
  • NOAA-18 decommissioned on 6 June 2025
Launch 20 May 2005 EOL 06 Jun 2025
Last update: 2025-06-06
Associated satellite programme and related satellites

Note: red tag: no longer operational , green tag: operational , blue tag : future

Satellite Payload

All known Instruments flying on NOAA-18

Acronym Full name
AMSU-A Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit - A
AVHRR/3 Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer / 3
HIRS/4 High-resolution Infra Red Sounder / 4
MHS Microwave Humidity Sounding
S&RSAT Search & Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking System
SBUV/2 Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet / 2
DCS/2 Data Collection System / 2 (also called "Argos-2")
SEM/MEPED SEM / Medium energy proton detector
SEM/TED SEM / Total Energy Detector
Show instrument status and calibration
Satellite frequencies for Earth Observation, data transfer and platform communications and control
Frequencies for satellite management
Service Direction Frequency (MHz) Emission designator Bandwidth (kHz) Polarisation D/A Data rate (kbps) or Baseband (kHz) Comments
DCP E-S 401.65 MHz 4K00G1D 4 kHz RHCP D 0.400  kbps DCP reports
DCP S-E 465.9875 MHz 5K00G1D 5 kHz RHCP D 0.400  kbps DCP commanding
S & RSAT E-S 406.05 MHz 4K00G1D 4 kHz RHCP D 0.400  kbps Distress messages
S & RSAT S-E 1544.5 MHz 750KG2D 750 kHz RHCP D 0.400  kbps Distress messages to LUT
Command E-S 2026 MHz 2M00G2D 2000 kHz RHCP D 2.0  kbps Commands
TT & C S-E 2247.5 MHz 6M04G7DDC 6000 kHz RHCP D 8,32  kbps Telemetry and command
Earth observation MW frequencies
Service Sensing mode Frequency (GHz) Bandwidth (MHz) Polarisation Comments
AMSU-A passive 23.8 GHz 270 MHz V Water vapour channel
AMSU-A passive 31.4 GHz 180 MHz V Window channel
AMSU-A passive 50.12 GHz - 57.62 GHz - H or V Oxygen band, 12 channels
AMSU-A passive 89 GHz 6000 MHz V Window channel
MHS passive 89 GHz 2800 MHz V Window channel
MHS passive 157 GHz 2800 MHz V Weak water vapour channel
MHS passive 179.31 GHz - 191.31 GHz - H or V Water vapour band, 3 channels
Frequencies for scientific data acquisition and communication services at ground stations
Service Direction Frequency (MHz) Bandwidth (kHz) Polarisation D/A Data rate (kbps) or Baseband (kHz) Comments
CDA S-E 2247.5 MHz 4000 kHz RHCP D 2660  kbps Global and Local data (GAC and LAC)
HRPT S-E 1702.5 MHz 4000 kHz LHCP D 665  kbps Full information data
HRPT S-E 1698 MHz 4000 kHz RHCP D 665  kbps Full information data
HRPT S-E 1707 MHz 4000 kHz RHCP D 665  kbps Full information data
APT S-E 137.35 MHz 38 kHz RHCP A 1.7  kHz Reduced resolution images
APT S-E 137.77 MHz 38 kHz RHCP A 1.7  kHz Reduced resolution images
APT S-E 137.1 MHz 38 kHz RHCP A 1.7  kHz Reduced resolution images
APT S-E 137.9125 MHz 38 kHz RHCP A 1.7  kHz Reduced resolution images
DSB S-E 137.35 MHz 46 kHz RHCP D 8.32  kbps TIP data
DSB S-E 137.77 MHz 46 kHz RHCP D 8.32  kbps TIP data