ection 3
Two Federal Agencies are responsible for the U. S. meteorological satellites (also known
as environmental or weather satellites).
oles and Responsibilities*
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- Establish observational requirements
- Provide funding for program implementation
- Operate and maintain operational satellites
- Acquire, process, and distribute data products
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Prepare program implementation plans
- Design, engineer, and procure spacecraft and instruments
- Launch the spacecraft
- Conduct on-orbit check-out before handover to NOAA
rganizational Assignments
NOAA
- NOAA is part of the Department of Commerce
- Within NOAA, the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
(NESDIS) is responsible for the U.S. civil operational weather satellites and uses data
from other programs such as the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP).
NASA
- NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) is responsible for program
implementation.
TH E U.S. OP E R AT I O N A L ME T E O R O L O G I C A L
SAT E L L I T E S ( M E T S AT) PR O G R A M
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