JPSS-2 Planned Orbit and Swaths

On Nov. 1, 2022, the nation’s newest weather and climate satellite, NOAA’s JPSS-2, is scheduled to launch from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The satellite, operated by NOAA, and built and launched by NASA and its commercial partners, will provide vital information for weather forecasts and much more.Considered the backbone of the global observing system, JPSS satellites circle Earth from pole to pole and cross the equator 14 times daily—providing full global coverage twice a day.JPSS satellites provide sophisticated meteorological data and observations of atmosphere, ocean, and land for short-term, seasonal, and long-term monitoring and forecasting.NOAA’s National Weather Service uses this data to increase the accuracy of forecasts three to seven days in advance of a severe weather event. These forecasts allow for early warnings and help emergency managers make timely decisions to protect American lives and property, including ordering effective evacuations.This data visualization shows the orbit of the JPSS-2 satellite and representative true-color imagery of the Earth, as collected by the JPSS series’ VIIRS instrument. VIIRS also collects important information in its Day/Night Band, revealing the planet’s lights at night. The visualization then continues to show representative views of model data that JPSS contributes to, including atmospheric water vapor, temperatures, and radiation.