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Loss of key US satellite data could send hurricane forecasting back 'decades'

(www.theguardian.com)
312 points trauco | 1 comments | 29 Jun 25 17:39 UTC | HN request time: 0.207s | source
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JumpCrisscross ◴[29 Jun 25 17:48 UTC] No.44414925[source]▶
“Researchers say the satellites themselves are operating normally and do not appear to have suffered any errors that would physically prevent the data from continuing to be collected and distributed, so the abrupt data halt might have been an intentional decision.”

Wait, the U.S. aren’t even going to try selling the satellites? We’re just scrapping them?

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ars ◴[29 Jun 25 20:42 UTC] No.44416270[source]▶
This story is NOT TRUE.

There is one operating satellite in this constellation, and congress voted to shut down the program in 2015.

The DMSP program was discontinued in 2015 by a vote in congress[1]. Virtually every working stallelite in this program has failed. As best as I can tell there's just a single working one specifically NOAA-19[2].

Instead the program has switched to JPSS[3] which is part of GEOSS[4].

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defense_Meteorological_Satelli... (scroll up slightly)

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAA-19

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joint_Polar_Satellite_System

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Earth_Observation_Syste...

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1. IAmGraydon ◴[29 Jun 25 22:21 UTC] No.44417082[source]▶
While you're correct that Congress voted to phase out the program, you're wrong on a number of levels. First, NOAA-19 is not a DMSP satellite. Second, many of the DMSP satellites are still in orbit and functioning - even the very Wikipedia article you linked to shows this. There was no legitimate reason to cut off their data that we've been given. Third, JPSS and GEOS lack some of the capabilities of the DMSP, for example the Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder that was still providing highly valuable real-time microwave data, including precipitation rates, sea surface wind speeds, sea ice coverage, water vapor levels and cloud properties.

So to be frank, the only thing that's "NOT TRUE" is nearly all of your post.