KSC-2011-7162

BALL AEROSPACE, Boulder, Colo. – In a cleanroom at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California, Ball Aerospace and Technologies Corp. technicians begin integration of the medium resolution Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite VIIRS into NASA’s National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project NPP satellite. NPP is carrying five instruments on board, the biggest being VIIRS which will provide highly detailed imagery of clouds, vegetation, snow cover, dust storms, sea surface temperature and other environmental phenomena. A United Launch Alliance Delta II rocket will carry NPP into space. NPP represents a critical first step in building the next-generation of Earth-observing satellites. NPP will carry the first of the new sensors developed for this satellite fleet, now known as the Joint Polar Satellite System JPSS to be launched in 2016. NPP is the bridge between NASA's Earth Observing System EOS satellites and the forthcoming series of JPSS satellites. The mission will test key technologies and instruments for the JPSS missions. NPP is targeted to launch Oct. 27. For more information, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_NPP. Photo credit: Ball Aerospace