Page 37 - Satellite Communications, Fourth Edition

Overview of Satellite Systems 17

TABLE 1.7 NOAA KLM Satellites
Launch date NOAA-K (NOAA-15): May 13, 1998
NOAA-L: September 21, 2000
NOAA-M: June 24, 2000
NOAA-N: March 19, 2005 (tentative)
NOAA-N’: July 2007
Mission life 2 years minimum
Orbit Sun synchronous, 833 ± 19 km
or 870 ± 19 km
Mass 1478.9 kg on orbit; 2231.7 kg on launch
Length/Diameter 4.18 m/1.88 m
Sensors Advanced very high resolution radiometer
(AVHRR/3)
Advanced microwave sounding unit-A
(AMSU-A)
Advanced microwave sounding unit-B
(AMSU-B)
High resolution infrared radiation sounder
(HIRS/3)
Space environment monitor (SEM/2)
Search and rescue (SAR) repeater
and processor
Data collection system (DCS/2)

Figure 1.7 Polar orbiting satellite: (a) first pass; (b) second pass, earth having
rotated 25°. Satellite period is 102 min.