WEATHER SATELLITES
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APT, DIGITAL and GEOSTATIONARY WEEKLY STATUS.
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A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL.
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Author : Douglas S Deans.
dsdeans@tiscali. co.uk
Sections 3 and 4 have updates.
SECTION 1: POLAR APT/LRPT REPORT -- 24th December 2007
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Satellite Frequency (MHz) Status Image Quality
NOAA 15 137.500 (APT) on good
NOAA 17 137.620 (APT) on good
NOAA 18 137.100 (APT) on good
Metop-A 137.100 (LRPT) off see Note 3
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
None.
THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None expected.
NOTES.
1. Three of the older NOAA weather satellites which have been
decommissioned and are tumbling freely are know to sporadically put out
a carrier on 137.500 MHz. The satellites are TIROS-N, NOAA 6 and NOAA 9
When the relevant footprints overlap this will cause interference to
NOAA 15 when active on this frequency.
Latest report below.
29/04/2007 :- No interference noted recently from any of the above
satellites. (My thanks to Patrik Tast for this report).
2. NOAA 16's APT transmission system failed a few months after launch.
3. Metop-A's A-side LRPT transmitter has failed. Currently the redundant
B-side transmitter is off until further notice (No further service
expected due to interference with HIRS instrument).
4. NOAA 14 was decommissioned on 23rd May 2007.
5. NOAA 12 was decommissioned on 10th August 2007.
6. Elements are available from :-
http://www.space- track.org and
http://celestrak. com/NORAD/ elements/
LAUNCHES.
NOAA N' launch.....February 2009.
Douglas Deans.
Dunblane, Scotland.
