When NASA launched the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project, or NPP, in October, it ushered in a new generation of climate and weather satellites.\u00a0 The school bus size spacecraft is now securely in polar orbit making 14 passes over the Earth each day.<\/p>\n
The five main instruments are critical to enhancing not only short term weather forecasting but also in aiding long term climate modeling.\u00a0 NASA has performing an initial checkout of the craft and its instruments, a process which will take several\u00a0 more weeks before it begins its regular science mission.<\/p>\n
This week NASA released an astounding \u2018blue marble\u2019 image captured by its Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).\u00a0 The image is a composite from multiple orbits of the spacecraft on January 4, 2012 showing much of North and Central America.<\/p>\n
![\"'Blue](\"http:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/-Xyh7OrHVsk4\/TyG68s5FBGI\/AAAAAAAAFqk\/fhtU0H1F7ro\/s600\/415435_10150540980721716_201357451715_9258716_1559840504_o.jpg\" "\\"'Blue")
<\/a>When NASA launched the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project, or NPP, in October, it ushered in a new generation of climate and weather satellites.\u00a0 The school bus size spacecraft is now securely in polar orbit making 14 passes over the Earth each day. The five main instruments are critical to enhancing not … Continue reading NASA\u2019s newest climate and weather satellite captures stunning \u2018blue marble\u2019<\/span>