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.

American Meteorological Society 2019 Air ForceORS-8Ralph StofflerSierra Nevada Corp.SSL
The U.S. Air Force is eager to obtain more data on space weather which its 557th Weather Wing based at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska uses to produce forecasts and analyze space weather events. Credit: Air Force

Glacial pace of space weather modernization

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Since the U.S. military is extremely reliant on satellites for communications, intelligence and navigation, the Air Force is striving to augment space weather observations, models and predictions. Unfortunately, progress often occurs at a glacial pace.

American Meteorological Society 2019 Ralph StofflerSpace WeatherU.S. Air Force