NPEO

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project, commonly referred to as NPEO, was a joint U.S. government initiative aimed at developing and testing technologies for the next generation of polar-orbiting environmental satellites. Launched in 2005, NPEO was a collaborative effort between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Air Force, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

The primary goal of NPEO was to demonstrate the viability of advanced sensors and instruments designed for the NPOESS program, which sought to replace the existing polar-orbiting satellite systems used for weather forecasting and environmental monitoring. NPEO served as a critical precursor, allowing scientists and engineers to refine technologies before their deployment on operational satellites. The project included the launch of the NPOESS Preparatory Project satellite, often abbreviated as NPP, which carried a suite of instruments such as the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), and the Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS).

NPP was launched on October 28, 2011, aboard a Delta II rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. The satellite operated successfully for several years, providing valuable data on Earth's atmosphere, land, and oceans while serving as a bridge between the legacy satellites, such as the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) and NOAA’s Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES), and the planned NPOESS system. However, the NPOESS program itself was canceled in 2010 due to cost overruns and management challenges, leading to the creation of two separate programs: the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) for NOAA and the Defense Weather Satellite System (DWSS) for the Air Force.

NPEO played a pivotal role in advancing Earth observation capabilities, contributing to improved weather prediction models, climate research, and disaster response efforts. The data collected by NPP continues to be utilized in scientific studies and operational applications, ensuring its legacy in environmental monitoring.