LOS ANGELES AIR FORCE BASE, El Segundo, Calif. – The U.S. Air Force is scheduled to launch the 19th Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman built Defense Meteorological Satellite aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas V launch vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., on April 3.
Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) polar orbiting satellites operate in sun-synchronous orbits and continuously send down imagery, microwave and space weather data providing military forces critical situational awareness information in support of military operations. Weather forecasters use such data to predict regional and global weather patterns, including severe thunderstorms, hurricanes and typhoons.
“For more than five decades, DMSP has been providing reliable, timely and dependable environmental information essential to the warfighter. DMSP-19 will extend this proud tradition well into the next decade,” stated Col. Scott Larrimore, director of the Space and Missile Systems Center’s Defense Weather Systems Directorate. “Through the continued dedication, detailed preparation and hard work of our combined government-contractor team, DMSP-19 is ready to launch,” he said.
DMSP has been providing weather data collected from meteorological satellites since the early 1960s. In conjunction with the other national agencies, DMSP has been instrumental in the development of modern meteorological technologies and continues to provide relevant, actionable information for modern military operations.
The Air Force Space Command’s Space and Missile Systems Center, located at Los Angeles Air Force Base, Calif., is the U.S. Air Force’s center of acquisition excellence for acquiring and developing military space systems. Its portfolio includes GPS, military satellite communications, defense meteorological satellites, space launch and range systems, satellite control networks, space based infrared systems and space situational awareness capabilities.
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