The first Joint Polar Satellite System will launch this month with WTKV featuring coverage of the launch on Friday, Nov. 10. The launch will be from the Vandenberg Air Force Base. Coverage will begin at approximately 4:15am.
JPSS (short for Joint Polar Satellite System) is a series of high tech satellites that will keep an eye on the weather and environment. These satellites will circle the Earth from North Pole to South Pole 14 times each day as the planet spins below. This allows JPSS to see the whole Earth twice every day!
JPSS-1—the first satellite in the JPSS series—has a suite of advanced instruments to collect information about what’s happening in the atmosphere, on the land, and on the surface of the oceans. From its orbit 512 miles above Earth, JPSS-1 will help:
- Create more accurate weather forecasts up to 7 days in advance.
- Track how the weather affects plants, including forests and the crops that grow our food.
- Monitor ocean health by taking detailed measurements of water temperature and color.
- Keep tabs on the atmosphere to create earlier warnings of severe weather.
- Watch for volcanoes and forest fires around the world to monitor air quality and enhance public safety.
