# WSF-M1
*missions*

## Specifications
- **operator**: us-space-force
- **actual launch**: 2024-04-11
- **current status**: operational
- **orbit type**: Sun-synchronous orbit, 854 km altitude, 06:00 descending equator crossing time
- **tasking supported**: false
- **current geographic priority**: Global military weather and space-based environmental monitoring
- **planned decommission**: 2030-12-31
- **launch vehicle**: spacex-falcon-9
- **entity type**: mission
- **last verified date**: 2026-06-14
- **verified by**: agency-doc
- **claim status**: agency-sourced
- **provider**: us-space-force
- **attributes**: {"operator":"us-space-force","actual_launch":"2024-04-11","current_status":"operational","orbit_type":"Sun-synchronous orbit, 854 km altitude, 06:00 descending equator crossing time","tasking_supported":false,"current_geographic_priority":"Global military weather and space-based environmental monitoring","planned_decommission":"2030-12-31","launch_vehicle":"spacex-falcon-9"}
- **relevance**: in-scope

## Editorial
WSF-M1 is the first satellite of the US Department of Defense Weather System Follow-on Microwave (WSF-M) programme, operated by the US Space Force. It was launched on 2024-04-11 and placed in a sun-synchronous orbit at 854 km altitude with a 06:00 descending equator crossing time.[^wmo-wsf-m1] The Space Systems Command declared operational acceptance and initial operational capability (IOC) in April 2025.[^ssc-wsf-m-ioc] WSF-M1 carries a microwave imager payload that supports retrieval of ocean surface vector winds, tropical cyclone intensity estimation, sea-ice extent, soil moisture, snow water equivalent, and other environmental parameters.[^ssc-wsf-m-factsheet] The satellite also hosts an energetic charged particle sensor covering the local space weather environment.[^ssc-wsf-m-factsheet] The mission replaces environmental sensing capability previously provided by DMSP and supports global military weather and space-based environmental monitoring. Tasking is not available commercially.[^ssc-wsf-m-factsheet]

## Compositional position
- WSF-M1 --[mission_payloads]--> wsf-m-microwave-imager (products)
- WSF-M1 --[mission_payloads]--> wsf-m-energetic-charged-particle-sensor (products)
- WSF-M1 --[related-topic]--> ocean-surface-winds (topics)
- WSF-M1 --[related-topic]--> sea-ice (topics)
- WSF-M1 --[related-topic]--> soil-moisture (topics)
- WSF-M1 --[related-topic]--> snow-water-equivalent (topics)
- WSF-M1 --[related-topic]--> weather-nowcasting (topics)

## Sources
- [wmo-wsf-m1] | WMO OSCAR: WSF-M1 | https://space.oscar.wmo.int/satellites/view/wsf_m1 | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [ssc-wsf-m-ioc] | SSC: WSF-M operational acceptance and IOC | https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Newsroom/Article/4165711/ussf-advances-weather-monitoring-with-operational-acceptance-and-initial-operat | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14
- [ssc-wsf-m-factsheet] | Space Systems Command WSF-M fact sheet | https://www.ssc.spaceforce.mil/Portals/3/Documents/SSC_WSF-M_FACTSHEET.pdf?ver=eCgypX6cQvba-eKxHiS4Lg%3D%3D | tier=agency-doc | accessed=2026-06-14

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Source: https://eo-atlas.org/missions/wsf-m1
Maintainer: SpectraWorks B.V. (CC-BY 4.0)