NOAA 18

Launch data: Designation  28654 / 05018A Launch date  20 May 2005 - 10:22 UT Launch site  Va, SLC-2W Launch vehicle  Delta-7320-10C Mission  Meteorology Earth orbit on 20 May - 13:12 UT: Perigee / Apogee  847 x 866 km Inclination  98.75° Period  102.07 min

NOAA 15 (NOAA N similar)

Spacecraft data: Prime contractor  Lockheed Martin Astro Operator  NOAA Platform  Tiros-N Bus Mass at launch  2232 kg Dry Mass on-station  1479 kg Basic shape   Dimension   Solar array   Propulsion  ISS DC power   Design lifetime  2 years

Workers install the first half of the Delta rocket's nose cone around NOAA-N at the launch pad last week. Photo: Russ Underwood/Lockheed Martin

Description:

The launch of the NOAA-N and -N' spacecraft will bring about a number of changes compared to the preceding NOAA KLM series of NOAA satellites. These changes are associated with: the substitution of the Microwave Humidity Sounder (MHS) for the AMSU-B instrument; replacement of HIRS/3 with HIRS/4 instrument.

Additionally the change to the Delta-7320-10C launch vehicle enables direct orbit insertion, so the solid rocket motor has been ommited in these two satelites.

NOAA N' was severly damaged in an factory accident in September 2003.