NOAA16

NOAA 16 was a United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) joint satellite mission. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 16 (NOAA 16) was designed to provide global monitoring and surveillance capabilities for environmental protection and national security.

Launched on September 7, 1993, aboard a Delta 7925-8 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base, NOAA 16 was built by Lockheed Martin's Missiles & Space division. The satellite weighed approximately 2,200 kilograms (4,850 lbs) and measured approximately 4.8 meters (15.7 feet) in height.

The primary payloads on NOAA 16 were the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) and the High-Resolution Geostationary Aerosol and Water Vapor Radiometer (HIWRAP). The AVHRR was a multispectral radiometer designed for day and night land observation, and it had five channels for infrared radiation and one for visible green light. NIWRAP detected water vapor and aerosols in the atmosphere through a 10-channel radiometer and an 80-channel spectrometer.

From its orbit at 500 kilometers (310 miles) above the equator, NOAA 16 supported weather forecasting, climate research, and emergency management. Operations continued until November 2022. NOAA 16 was intended to be replaced by two newer satellites, but initially, the plans were delayed, subsequently altered and then abandoned due to lack of funding. NOAA 16 played a significant role in environmental monitoring until its de-orbit time. The NOAA 16's units, panels, and various components were preserved by the Air Force's Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) for restoration into an operational environment.