NOAA11

NOAA-11 was the eleventh satellite in the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) series. Launched on September 24, 1991, it was a polar-orbiting environmental satellite designed to collect data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring. NOAA-11 was part of the TIROS (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) program, which has been providing crucial Earth observation data since the early 1960s.

The satellite carried several instruments, including the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the High Resolution Infrared Sounder (HIRS). The AVHRR provided imagery of the Earth's surface and atmosphere in various spectral bands, useful for detecting clouds, ice, snow, and vegetation. HIRS gathered atmospheric temperature and moisture profiles, essential for creating numerical weather prediction models.

NOAA-11's mission contributed significantly to understanding atmospheric dynamics, sea surface temperatures, and the impact of climate change. It operated in orbit for over a decade, transmitting valuable data until its deorbit in 2005. The data collected by NOAA-11 and its predecessors and successors have been instrumental in advancing meteorological science and improving weather forecasts, ultimately benefiting public safety and economic activities.