Weather Satellite Follow-On

Abstract

Weather System Follow-on (WSF) is the Department of Defense's (DoD) future weather system. The program will leverage a group of systems to provide timely, reliable, and high quality remote sensing capabilities that will make global environmental observations of atmospheric, terrestrial, oceanographic, solar-geophysical conditions and meet other requirements validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC). Based on the completed Space-Based Environmental Monitoring (SBEM) Analysis of Alternatives (AoA), capabilities will be developed to satisfy weather gaps for which no known mitigation exists to include Gap 3 Ocean Surface Vector Winds (OSVW), Gap 8 Tropical Cyclone Intensity (TCI), and Gap 11 Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Energetic Charged Particles (LEO ECP). Gap 3 OSVW and Gap 8 TCI require a space-based microwave sensor to provide polarimetric ocean surface wind direction and speed required for naval sea operations, as well as fighter sortie generations and marine amphibious operations. Gap 11 LEO ECP requires in situ ECP sensor for space situational awareness. The earliest possible launch options are being integrated in the design for critical gaps. DoD established WSF as a Pre-Major Defense Acquisition Program (MDAP) with the Air force as the lead component. Based on the SBEM AoA results, the WSF initial thrusts will be to enable: 1) DoD use of data collected by civil, international and other DoD space systems; 2) Timely weather collection over broad oceans in support of maneuvering forces; 3) Space weather capabilities to characterize operational orbits, space situational awareness, and the ionosphere. Secondary investments may be supported to address weather gaps identified in the Meteorological and Oceanographic (METOC) Initial Capability Document (ICD). This program is in Budget Activity 4, Advanced Component Development and Prototypes (ACD&P) because efforts are necessary to evaluate integrated technologies, representative modes or prototype systems in a high fidelity and realistic operating environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Project
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2018
Source ID
644289_1206422F_4_3600_PB_2018

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerospace Engineering.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Satellites

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