NOAA
Revised remote sensing regulatory rule nears release
The Commerce Department plans to soon release a new rule designed to streamline licensing of commercial remote sensing systems with what one official called a “fundamentally different” approach for licensing.
NOAA and NASA establish board to investigate GOES-17 instrument problem
NASA and NOAA announced Oct. 2 that they are convening a panel to investigate the cause of an instrument problem on a geostationary weather satellite launched earlier this year that impairs its functionality.
Three companies win NOAA commercial weather data pilot contracts
NOAA awarded more than $8 million in contracts this week to three companies in the second round of a commercial satellite weather data pilot program.
ESA’s Aeolus. A game-changer for forecasts?
The first wind data captured by the European Space Agency's Aeolus wind sensor show the sensor is working as designed, a huge relief for a program managers who struggled for more than a decade with the complex technology.
NOAA rejects one-size-fits-all solution for data protection
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs office plans to roll out a tiered approach to evaluating company data-protection plans.
Senate bill restores funding for NASA science and technology demonstration missions
A fiscal year 2019 spending bill approved by a Senate appropriations subcommittee June 12 offers $21.3 billion for NASA, including funding for several missions slated for cancellation in the administration’s budget request.
NOAA declares first JPSS weather satellite operational
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced May 30 that its first next-generation polar-orbiting weather satellite is now fully operational as the government moves to procure additional satellites.
New NOAA weather satellite suffers instrument anomaly
A cooling problem with a key instrument on a weather satellite launched less than three months ago could degrade its performance for at least part of each day, with potential but still undetermined effects on weather forecasts, officials said May 23.
NOAA seeks proposals for second round of commercial weather data pilot
NOAA is soliciting proposals for a second round of a commercial satellite weather data pilot program even as it wraps up the evaluation of the first round.
NOAA speeds up remote sensing license reviews amid broader regulatory changes
The small office that currently handles licensing of commercial remote sensing systems says it’s made major progress in processing license applications, even as the government moves ahead with broader reforms.
NOAA explains restriction on SpaceX launch webcast
A cutoff of live video on a recent SpaceX launch reflects new awareness by regulators of the imaging capabilities of onboard cameras on launch vehicles and requirements for companies to adhere to laws that some in the industry believe are outdated.
Falcon 9 deploys Iridium satellites after SpaceX ends video citing NOAA’s orders
SpaceX delivered its latest batch of Iridium Next satellites to orbit Friday morning, but stopped its live video feed nine minutes into the launch citing orders from the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Omnibus bill increases funding for NOAA weather satellite and space weather programs
A final fiscal year 2018 omnibus spending bill released March 21 fully funds two key weather satellite programs at NOAA while increasing funding for future weather satellites and space weather efforts.
NOAA budget proposal restores schedule for future JPSS satellites
The fiscal year 2019 budget proposal for NOAA restores an earlier schedule for two future polar-orbiting weather satellites that faced potential delays last year.
The still-unrealized promise of commercial Earth science data
Proponents of commercial satellite weather programs have talked up the promise of government data buys from such systems. The results so far have been underwhelming.
NOAA continues weather satellite discussions with the Air Force
As NOAA prepares to launch its second next-generation geostationary orbit weather satellite, it is continuing discussions with the U.S. Air Force about transferring one of its older spacecraft.
