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Today, Cross-Track Infrared Sounder (CrIS), developed by L3Harris Technologies (NYSE:LHX) to improve severe weather detection capabilities, was successfully launched onboard NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System-2 weather satellite.
The CrIS instrument, one of the most sophisticated hyperspectral sounders in the world and a significant sensor aboard the JPSS-2 satellite, contains approximately 2,000 infrared channels, which is 100 times more than its predecessor. By delivering more accurate temperature and water vapor information, this technology enhances NOAA’s forecasting of hurricanes, tornadoes, and other extreme weather events as well as the accuracy of weather models three to seven days in advance.
Rob Mitrevski, vice president and general manager of Spectral Solutions, Space and Airborne Systems at L3Harris, stated that NOAA’s use of the CrIS instrument from L3Harris allows it to increase the fidelity of its severe weather forecasts and severe weather events around the world. For those who may be in danger, early detection and forecasting results in earlier warning and preparation time.
The CrIS instrument onboard the JPSS-2, which orbits the Earth 14 times per day, collects hyperspectral, infrared data that helps NOAA with global, long-term forecasts and “nowcasting” operations. In order to promote NOAA’s mission to make the nation more weather-smart, CrIS will also increase our understanding of longer-term weather and climate events, greenhouse gas concentrations, and transport.
X-band and Ka-band payloads carrying imagery and scientific data, as well as spacecraft and downlink spacecraft health data, are all controlled by the JPSS-2 launch.
His JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 satellites, which are slated to launch in 2027 and 2032, respectively, will also carry the CrIS instruments that are already flying on board the Suomi-NPP and NOAA-20 satellites.