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G4ROA > WXSAT 09.02.09 09:22l 401 Lines 13469 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
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Subj: WX Sat Status report 9/2
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Sent: 090209/0800Z @:GB7COV.#29.GBR.EU #:58220 [Coventry] $:861243G4ROA
From: G4ROA@GB7COV.#29.GBR.EU
To : WXSAT@WW
WEATHER SATELLITES
================
APT, DIGITAL and GEOSTATIONARY WEEKLY STATUS.
==========================================
Author : Douglas S Deans. dsdeans@tiscali.co.uk
Sections 1, 2 and 4 have updates.
SECTION 1: POLAR APT/LRPT REPORT -- 9th February 2009
=============================================
Satellite Frequency (MHz) Status Image Quality
NOAA 15 137.500 (APT) on good
NOAA 17 137.620 (APT) on good
NOAA 18 137.100 (APT) on good
NOAA 19 137.9125(APT) on see Note 6
Metop-A 137.100 (LRPT) off see Note 3
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
NOAA N Prime successfully launched (now NOAA 19).
THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None expected.
NOTES.
1. Three of the older NOAA weather satellites which have been
decommissioned and are tumbling freely are know to sporadically put
out
a carrier on 137.500 MHz. The satellites are TIROS-N, NOAA 6 and NOAA
9
When the relevant footprints overlap this will cause interference to
NOAA 15 when active on this frequency.
Latest report below.
22/07/08 - There is some recent evidence that NOAA 9 is once again
transmitting a spurious carrier from time to time. (I am grateful to
John Cooper from Oxford for this report).
2. NOAA 16's APT transmission system failed a few months after launch.
3. Metop-A's A-side LRPT transmitter has failed. Currently the redundant
B-side transmitter is off until further notice (No further service
expected due to interference with HIRS instrument).
4. NOAA 14 was decommissioned on 23rd May 2007.
5. NOAA 12 was decommissioned on 10th August 2007.
6. For several weeks the APT will carry 2 visible images (channels 1 and
2). The infra-red system requires out-gassing before being switched
on and is the reason for the delay (usually about 2/3 weeks) in its
operation. My understanding is that the outgassing prevents
precipitation (and contamination) when the coolers are switched on.
Thereafter the APT format should follow the norm of Channel 2
(visible)
and channel 4 (IR) during daylight passes, switching automatically
to channels 3 (3A) and 4 during darkness.
7. Elements are available from :-
http://www.space-track.org and
http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/
LAUNCHES.
None due.
SECTION 2: POLAR HRPT/AHRPT REPORT -- 9th February 2009
==============================================
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
NOAA N Prime successfully launched (now NOAA 19).
THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None expected.
Satellite Frequency Antenna Mode Image Quality
(MHz)
NOAA 15 1702.5 Omni HRPT Weak
NOAA 16 1702.5 LHCP HRPT Mixed ( note 3)
NOAA 17 1698.0 RHCP HRPT Good
NOAA 18 1707.0 RHCP HRPT Good
NOAA 19 1698.0 RHCP HRPT See note 6.
Feng Yun 1D 1700.4 RHCP CHRPT Good
Feng Yun 3A see note 5
Metop-A 1701.3 RHCP AHRPT Good (note 4)
NOTES.
1. NOAA 14 was decommissioned on 23rd June 2007.
2. NOAA 12 was decommissioned on 10th August 2007.
3. On Friday 19th September 2003 NOAA 16 developed AVHRR synch. problems
similar to those on NOAA 14 (and previously NOAA 15).
Since then reports have been mixed. Some periods of good data, some
poor.
UPDATE: Scan motor performance has recently improved.
4. On 29 September 2008, EUMETSAT commenced a partial Metop-A AHRPT
Direct Readout service. Due to the operational constraints, the
activation of AHRPT is for a limited geographical region covering
the North Atlantic and European area (southbound passes only). This
service is being introduced for a trial period of up to 2 months,
following which the activation scenario will become operational. For
further details on this service see:
http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/Access_to_Data/Metop__amp__NOAA_Servic
es/SP_1117714487826?l=en
5. Feng Yun 3A was declared operational on 12th January 2009. My thanks
to
Johnny Lin for drawing this to my attention.
I am also grateful to Dave Wright of Dartcom for confirming that
unfortunately (as usual) the Chinese have not strictly complied with the
CGMS AHRPT Global Standard so reception using a standard MetOp AHRPT
receiver is not possible.
6. For several weeks only visible imagery will be available.
The infra-red system requires out-gassing before being switched
on and is the reason for the delay (usually about 2/3 weeks) in its
operation. My understanding is that the outgassing prevents
precipitation (and contamination) when the coolers are switched on.
Please also note that during commissioning the HRPT frequency and
antenna
selection is likely to change with possible drastic results in
reception
(omni and LHCP antennas etc.).
LAUNCHES.
None due.
SECTION 3: CONTINENTAL GEOSTATIONARY WORLD
===========================================
WEATHER SATELLITE REPORT -- 9th February 2009
======================================
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
None.
THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None.
Europe & Africa
------------------
Satellite : Meteosat 8 (9.5°E)
Data : HRIT (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational : Yes, RSS and Standby for Meteosat 9.
Satellite : Meteosat 9 (0°) (note 7).
Data : HRIT (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational : Yes
North America
----------------
East.
Satellite : GOES 12 (75.0° W)
Data : GVAR (digital) - 1685.7 MHz
LRIT (digital) -1691 MHz
Operational : Yes
West.
Satellite : GOES 11 (135°W)
Data : GVAR (digital) - 1685.7 MHz
LRIT (digital) - 1691 MHz
Operational : Yes
South America
----------------
Satellite : GOES 10 (60°W)
GVAR (digital) - 1685.7 MHz
LRIT (digital) - 1691 MHz.
Asia (Russian Operated Satellite)
--------------------------------------
Satellite : GOMS N2 / ELECTRO-L
Data : HRIT/LRIT.
Operational : Launch date unknown.
Asia (European Operated Satellites)
----------------------------------------
Satellite : Meteosat 7 (57.5°E)
HRI (digital) - 1691 MHz
Wefax (analogue) occasionally for ranging purposes
only.
Operational : Yes.
Satellite : Meteosat 6 (67.5°E) (Note 2).
Asia (Indian Operated Satellite)
-----------------------------------
Satellite : Metsat
Data : None available.
Operational : Present....
Satellite : Insat 3A (Note 3.)
Data : VHRR (digital) 2599 MHz
Operational : Yes.
Asia & Oceania (Japanese Operated Satellites)
-----------------------------------------------------
Satellite : MTSAT-1R (140° E) (note 5.)
Data : HRIT (digital) and LRIT(digital) on 1691 MHz.
(Note 6.)
Operational : Yes.
Asia & Oceania (Chinese Operated Satellites)
----------------------------------------------------
Satellite : Feng Yun 2C (105°E)
Data : SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational : Yes.
Satellite : Feng Yun 2D (86.5°E).
Data : SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational : Yes. Parallel operation with 2C.
(My thanks to Johnny Lin for the update).
Satellite: Feng Yun 2E (123.3° E)
Data : SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational : No. Commissioning.
NOTES.
1. Meteosat 7 stopped its 0° service at 09.00 UTC on 14th June 2006.
2. Meteosat-6 arrived on station at 67.5 degrees East, on the 27 April
2007.
After a short testing campaign, Meteosat-6 is now supporting the DCP
mission over the Indian Ocean during eclipse periods.
3. Insat 3A is a combined data and meteorological satellite.
4. For those interested in EMWIN data, the following sats/frequencies
apply.
GOES 7 (175 W) 1690.725 MHz.
GOES 11 (135 W) 1690.725 MHz
GOES 12 (74.5 W) 1690.725 MHz
For further info. there are many sources but the following is
particularly informative:-
http://iwin.nws.noaa.gov/emwin/user-intro.htm
5. This satellite is also known as HIMAWARI 6.
6. HiRID and WEFAX was discontinued on 12th March 2008. It was replaced
with HRIT/LRIT (after many months of dual dissemination).
7. Only LRIT (1691.0 MHz) is provided in direct readout.
Full HRIT and LRIT service from Eumetcast.
LAUNCHES.
None expected.
SECTION 4: EUMETCAST REPORT -- 9th February 2009
========================================
Service Status Eurobird 9 Satellite (9° E)
EARS On Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
Meteosat 8 (RSS) On Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
Meteosat 9 On Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
DWDSAT On Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
EPS(Metop-A) On Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
General Note updated.
Meteosat 8 (RSS) Note added.
FSD Note added.
IODC Note updated.
Metop-A Note updated.
THIS WEEK AND FUTURE POSSIBLE EVENTS.
General Note.
The EUMETSAT Archive will be carrying out essential maintenance on
10/02/09
between 09:00 to 10:00 UTC.
During this period orders will not be processed and catalogue updates are
suspended.
Eumetsat apologise for the inconvenience and thank their users for their
understanding.
Due to essential ground segment maintenance on 11/02/09 between 09:00 and
10:00 there is a risk of interruption to C-Band Foreign Satellite Data and
C-Band MPEF data.
Future Event.
Changes to Archive delivery media: the EUMETSAT Archive will introduce
LTO-4 tapes as a delivery medium in early 2009.
The following delivery media will be phased out:
- DDS4 and DAT-72 tapes - end January 2009.
- DDS2 tapes - end June 2009.
If users have any queries regarding this change, please address them to:
ops@eumetsat.int
Meteosat 8 (RSS).
The Meteosat-8 Rapid Scanning Service will be interrupted from 10:00 UTC
on
10/02/09 until 09:00 UTC on 12/02/09 for the regular monthly rapid
scanning
interruption. Full earth scanning data (if any) will not be disseminated.
NOTE: Due to essential tests there is a risk of interruption to RSS on
10/02/09 between 09:00 and 10:00 UTC.
FSD.
Due to a MTSAT-1R_140 West manoeuvre planned on 13/02/09 at 10:14 UTC,
the images may be incomplete for up to 6 hours after the manoeuvre.
IODC.
Due to Meteosat-7 eclipse season from 12/02/09 to 31/03/09, slots 39 to 43
may not be available.
Due to sun co-linearity between 15/02/09 and 23/02/09 the 07:46 AIW and
07:58 AV formats may not be available.
Metop-A.
ASCAT
10/02/2009 Start of dissemination of Ascat L2 Soil Moisture products to
the
RMDCN.
EARS:
12/02/2009: Start of dissemination of Metop-A ATOVS products from
Maspalomas
(mas).
12/02/2009: Start of dissemination of Ewa-Beach (ewa) and Miami (mia)
ATOVS
products.
Note: the timeliness of Ewa-Beach products is between one and two hours.
The following EPS GDS products are available on Eumetcast.
EPS-2 PID 510 Metop AMSA operational
EPS-3 PID 510 Metop ASCAT operational
EPS-4 PID 510 Metop ATOVS operational
EPS-5 PID 510 Metop GOME operational
EPS-6 PID 510 Metop GRAS operational
EPS-7 PID 510 Metop HIRS operational
EPS-8 PID 510 Metop MHS operational
EPS-10 PID 510 Metop AVHRR operational
EPS-11 PID 510 Metop IASI operational
EPS-13 PID 510 NOAA AMSA operational
EPS-14 PID 510 NOAA ATOVS operational
EPS-15 PID 510 NOAA GAC operational
EPS-16 PID 510 NOAA HIRS operational
EPS-17 PID 510 NOAA MHS operational
EPS-18 PID 510 EPS Service News operational
NOTES.
1. Reports for all sections should be sent to :-
Douglas Deans dsdeans@tiscali.co.uk
2. For further information on the Eumetcast service see :-
David Taylor's web site
http://www.satsignal.eu => Weather Satellites, Using EUMETCast
or Satellite Tools, MSG
Data
Manager.
or the Eumetsat web site
www.eumetsat.int
GENERAL
=======
For further weather satellite related information join GEO, Group for
Earth
Observation, and receive the informative quarterly magazine. See :-
http://www.geo-web.org.uk/
To download element sets for all satellites visit the following sites :
http://www.space-track.org and
http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/
=============================
73's - Adrian, G4ROA @ GB7COV
Message timed: 06:56 on 09 Feb 2009
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Member of:
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QTH Loc - IO92gj
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E-Mail: G4ROA@AOL.com
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