Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

Defense Meteorological Satellite Program
Artist rendition of a DMSP-5D2 satellite in orbit
Program overview
CountryUnited States
OrganizationUnited States Space Force
PurposeEarth monitoring
StatusOngoing
Program history
First flightDMSP-1 F2
23 August 1962
Last flightDMSP 5D-3/F19
3 April 2014
Launch site(s)Vandenberg Space Force Base
DMSP images of Auroral bands circling north of Scandinavia in December 2010

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) monitors meteorological, oceanographic, and solar-terrestrial physics for the United States Department of Defense. The program is managed by the United States Space Force with on-orbit operations provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).[1] The (originally classified) mission of the satellites was revealed in March 1973. They provide cloud cover imagery from polar orbits that are Sun-synchronous at nominal altitude of 830 km (520 mi).[2]

  1. ^ "Schriever Airmen assist during satellite program move". Schriever Air Force Base. Archived from the original on 2009-12-03. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
  2. ^ "DMSP 1965-072A". NASA. Retrieved 2008-02-25.