APT_Status_Report

WEATHER SATELLITES

26th July 2010

POLAR APT, DIGITAL and GEOSTATIONARY WEEKLY STATUS.
===============================================

Author : Douglas S Deans. dsdeans@...
Section 4 has updates.

SECTION 1: POLAR APT/LRPT REPORT
==========================

Satellite Frequency (MHz) Status Image Quality

NOAA 15 137.500 (APT) on good
NOAA 17 137.620 (APT) on poor see Note 7
NOAA 18 137.9125 (APT) on good
NOAA 19 137.100 (APT) on good
Metop-A 137.100 (LRPT) off see Note 3
Meteor M N1 137.100 (LRPT) sporadic see Note 6

CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
None.

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 known 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.
4th June 2010 update for NOAA 9.
Mike Piper from Oregon has provided an interim update suggesting that
there are signs that the tumbling which had hit a slow point is
beginning to speed up again and that interference may be a bit less.
He hopes to have a further update soon after more investigation.
My thanks to him for his 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. Signals have been reported from Meteor M N1 but they are
sporadic with periods off. Although classed as LRPT it does not
conform to the CGMS standard.

7. NOAA 17 has scan motor problems with rising motor currents.
Constant rephase by the MIRP was causing data dropouts on all the HRPT
stream and APT and GAC derivatives.
Auto re-phase has now been disabled and the resulting AVHRR products are
almost all unusable. NOAA continue with tests with a view to finding a
solution.
Since 05/05/10 there have been some periods of improved imagery.
Daily MIRP rephasing via the Stored Command Table began on 18 May 2010
(10/138) - at the first pass over the South Pole each day.

8. Elements are available from :-

http://www.space-track.org and
http://celestrak.com/NORAD/elements/

LAUNCHES.
Possibility of Okean 5 launch 2010.

SECTION 2: POLAR HRPT/AHRPT REPORT -- 26th July 2010
===========================================
CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
None.

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 poor see note 7
NOAA 18 1707.0 RHCP HRPT Good
NOAA 19 1698.0 RHCP HRPT Good
Feng Yun 1D 1700.4 RHCP CHRPT Good
Feng Yun 3A see note 5
Metop-A 1701.3 RHCP AHRPT Good (note 4)
Meteor M N1 1700 See note 6.

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.

4. On 25 May 2009, Eumetsat extended the coverage of the Advanced High
Resolution Picture Transmission (AHRPT) system on Eumetsat's Metop-A
polar-orbiting satellite. The improved service provides additional
coverage over the Gulf of Mexico and Indian Ocean regions.
For more information, please see:
http://www.eumetsat.int/Home/Main/Media/Features/710601

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. It appears that Meteor M N1 is neither using full HRPT or AHRPT and
cannot be received using current receivers. Please see other WSR mails
for further explanation :-
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/weather-satellite-reports/message/2098

7. NOAA 17 has scan motor problems with rising motor currents.
Constant rephase by the MIRP was causing data dropouts on all the HRPT
stream and APT and GAC derivatives.
Auto re-phase has now been disabled and the resulting AVHRR products are
almost all unusable. NOAA continue with tests with a view to finding a
solution.
Since 05/05/10 there have been some periods of improved imagery.
Daily MIRP rephasing via the Stored Command Table began on 18 May 2010
(10/138) - at the first pass over the South Pole each day.

LAUNCHES.
None due in the near future.

SECTION 3: CONTINENTAL GEOSTATIONARY WORLD
===========================================
WEATHER SATELLITE REPORT -- 26th July 2010
===================================

CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
None.

THIS WEEK'S POSSIBLE EVENTS.
None expected.

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 13 (75° 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.

Satellite : GOES 14 (105°W)
Data : In storage.

South America
----------------
Satellite : GOES 12 (60°W)
Data : GVAR (digital) - 1685.7 MHz
LRIT (digital) -1691 MHz
Operational : Yes on South American project.

Asia (Russian Operated Satellite)
--------------------------------------

Satellite : GOMS N2 / ELECTRO-L
sometimes called ELEKTRO -L/N1
Data : HRIT/LRIT.
Operational : No. launch date delayed indefinitely.

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 : Yes.

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 : Standby but used to relay direct readout data from MTSAT-2.

Satellite : MTSAT-2 (145º E).
Data : HRIT (digital) and LRIT(digital) on 1691 MHz.
Operational : Yes (see above for MTSAT-1R)

Asia & Oceania (Chinese Operated Satellites)
----------------------------------------------------
Satellite : Feng Yun 2D (86.5°E).
Data : SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational : Yes.

Satellite: Feng Yun 2E (104° E).
Data : SVISSR (digital) and LRIT (digital)
Operational : Yes.

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 11 (135 W) 1690.725 MHz
GOES 13 (75 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 due.

SECTION 4: EUMETCAST REPORT -- 26th July 2010
======================================

Service Status Eurobird 9A 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
Jason On Transponder TP63: 11976.82 MHz

CHANGES SINCE LAST REPORT.
Meteosat 8 (RSS) Note updated.
Metop and NOAA Global Data Service Note updated.
Metop and NOAA Regional Data Service Note added.
Third-Party Data and Products Note updated.

THIS WEEK AND FUTURE POSSIBLE EVENTS.
METEOSAT 8 (RSS).
27 July 2010 09:00 UTC - 29 July 2010 09:00 UTC.
Monthly RSS interruption.
Rapid Scanning Service will be suspended for scheduled full earth scanning
and Ground Segment maintenance.
Full earth images, if any, will not be disseminated.

METOP AND NOAA GLOBAL DATA SERVICE.
30 July 2010 17:36 UTC - 31 July 2010 21:59 UTC.
IASI All products.
Due to moon intrusion the above products will be affected. Short outages can
be expected during this period.

31 July 2010 - 03 August 2010.
ASCAT external calibration. Short outages can be expected:
31 July 2010 07:14 UTC orbit 19614
01 August 2010 18:15 UTC orbit 19635
02 August 2010 08:13 UTC orbit 19643
03 August 2010 (tba)

METOP AND NOAA REGIONAL DATA SERVICE.
27 July 2010.
EARS-ATOVS: Addition of Muscat station (mus).
Station coordinates are 23.59?N, 58.29?E.
Examples of typical file names are:
amsua_20100122_0808_noaa18_24087_mus.l1a.bz2
hirs_20100122_0808_noaa18_24087_mus.l1c_bufr

THIRD-PARTY DATA AND PRODUCTS.
MODIS Products.
23 July 2010 - Resumption of MODIS L1 Radiances and Geo-location data. Due
to a format change implemented by the data provider, the following MODIS
instrument products are unavailable on EUMETCast until further notice:
- Fire Product
- Ocean Colour

01 August 2010.
MTSAT-2_145E : Due to ground segment maintenance, there will be no images at
21:00 UTC.

FUTURE EVENTS.
Metop and NOAA Global Data Service.
03 August 2010.
Upgrade of IASI Level 2 processor
This will bring overall improvement of TWT (Atmospheric Temperature Water
Vapour), CLP (Cloud Parameters) products and operational quality for Ozone
products and CO in the TRG (Trace Gases) product.

Meteosat 0 deg Service.
03 August 2010 09:07:43 UTC - 09:59:14 UTC
Meteosat-9 North-South orbit inclination manoeuvre followed by a spin rate
adjustment.
Users may experience up to 24 hours of degraded quality of Meteosat-9 SEVIRI
images and meteorological products.

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
EPS-19 PID 510 Test service operational
(EPS-19 may sometimes be limited to Manufacturers)

NOTES.

1. Reports for all sections should be sent to :-
Douglas Deans. dsdeans@...

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