description NOAA-15 Overview
NOAA-15 is a polar-orbiting environmental satellite launched by the United States in 1998 as part of the Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) series. It operates in a sun-synchronous orbit, carrying instruments such as the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit (AMSU) to monitor global atmospheric conditions. The data collected by the satellite is used for weather forecasting, climate modeling, and environmental monitoring worldwide. It was the first in the fifth generation of POES spacecraft.
insights Ranking position
NOAA-15 ranks #103 of 187 in the Satellite ranking, behind NOAA-18, ahead of SES-17.
help NOAA-15 FAQ
Can hobbyists still receive weather images from NOAA-15?
NOAA-15 became famous among amateur satellite users because its Automatic Picture Transmission signal could be received with relatively simple VHF equipment. Reception quality depends on the satellite's aging hardware and current transmitter status.
What instruments are carried by NOAA-15?
Its payload includes AVHRR for cloud and surface imaging, AMSU microwave sounders, HIRS, and an SBUV/2 ozone instrument. NOAA launched the spacecraft in May 1998 as part of the POES program.
Why has NOAA-15 lasted so much longer than planned?
The spacecraft was designed around a roughly two-year primary operational period but continued providing useful data for decades. NOAA retained it as a secondary morning-orbit satellite even as newer POES and JPSS spacecraft entered service.
How is NOAA-15 different from a geostationary weather satellite?
NOAA-15 circles Earth in a near-polar, sun-synchronous orbit rather than remaining above one longitude. Each pass observes a moving strip of the planet, while satellites such as GOES continuously watch a broad fixed region.
explore Explore More
Similar to NOAA-15
See all arrow_forward
Reviews & Comments
Write a Review
Be the first to review
Share your thoughts with the community and help others make better decisions.
