Defense Meteorological Satellite Program

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). 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).

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
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