EO·Atlas
NOAA-20
Compiled from public sources on 2026-06-11. Not independently verified by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
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NOAA-20 (formerly JPSS-1) is the first operational satellite of the Joint Polar Satellite System, a U.S. NOAA/NASA polar-orbiting programme. Launched 18 November 2017 on a Ball Aerospace BCP-2000 bus, it flies a 833 km sun-synchronous orbit and carries five instruments: ATMS, CrIS, VIIRS, OMPS-N, and CERES. As of 2024, designated Secondary PM satellite; expected end of life 2032.
NOAA-20, formerly designated JPSS-1 (Joint Polar Satellite System-1), is the first operational satellite of the JPSS programme, a U.S. NOAA and NASA polar-orbiting meteorological constellation. The spacecraft was built on a Ball Aerospace BCP-2000 bus and launched 18 November 2017. It operates in a sun-synchronous orbit at approximately 833 km altitude (WMO OSCAR records 824 km; eoPortal and CEOS list 833 km[1][2]) with an orbital inclination of 98.75 degrees and a period of approximately 101.5 minutes.[3]
The satellite carries five instruments: ATMS (Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder), CrIS (Cross-track Infrared Sounder), VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite), OMPS-N (Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite - Nadir), and CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System).[2][4]
As of 2024, NOAA-20 is designated the Secondary PM (afternoon) satellite within the JPSS constellation, with NOAA-21 serving as primary PM. Design life extends to 2032.[3]
Compositional position
- [1]WMO OSCAR satellite view: NOAA-20agency doc2026-06-11
- [2]NOAA-20 mission overview, eoPortalcommunity2026-06-11
- [3]JPSS Programme Office, NESDISagency doc2026-06-11
- [4]NOAA-20 Mission Summary, CEOS EO Handbookcommunity2026-06-11