DMSP satellite. Credit: U.S. Air Force/Lockheed Martin artist's concept

What’s next for Air Force weather satellites?

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NASA is closed and the U.S. Air Force will discuss what to do next on the program, known as ORS-8, when the government shutdown ends, Ralph Stoffler, Air Force weather director, told SpaceNews.

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Civilian satellite operators work in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s satellite operations facility Sept. 25, 2014, in Suitland, Md. Detachment 1 of the 50th Space Operations Group, a small unit of four Air Force officers, works with NOAA civilians on the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program – the only weather satellite system in the DOD. The seven-satellite constellation supplies weather data and imagery to the Air Force Weather agency as well as military and civilian organizations around the world. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Alexander W. Riedel)

Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office awards contract to Sierra Nevada for weather satellite

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A new office created to accelerate the acquisition of military space technologies awarded Sierra Nevada Corp. a $119 million contract last month to develop a weather satellite.

SN Military.Space ORS-8Sierra Nevada Corp.Space Rapid Capabilities Office
Harris AVHRR

Harris says its weather sensors fit Air Force budget, schedule

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Harris Corp. plans to offer the U.S. Air Force an updated version of a legacy sensor for future weather satellite.

34th Space Symposium HarrisORS-8weatherWSF-E