Convergence of the civilian and the military polar-orbiting environmental satellite systems: VIIRS (the Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite) for NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System)

VIIRS is to be the next generation operational visible and infrared radiometric instrument for the NPOESS (National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System) program. The NPOESS will remain operational for at least ten years, following a first launch as early as 2007, and provide global data for meteorological, oceanographic, environmental, climatic, and solar-geophysical users by disseminating the data to world wide users. These data will be delivered in the form of Environmental Data Records (EDRs) in compliance with the Integrated Operational Requirements Document (IORD) which incorporates the NOAA and DoD operational mission requirements.