1 National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) Low-Rate Information Transmission (LRIT) IMPLEMENTATION and TRANSITION PLAN December 10, 2002

2 Background –CGMS-XIX (1991)... Concept of replacement/growth of Weather Facsimile (WEFAX) initiated –CGMS-XXVI (1998)... Digital Low-rate Information Transmission (LRIT) on Geostationary Meteorological Satellites committed to by all participants - except the United States Implementation planning dates established »Satellite and Launch Date –CGMS-XXVII (1999)... U.S. announced plans for LRIT on GOES I-M/January 2003 NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

3 LRIT Technical Development –Primary CONCERNS voiced by WMO in behalf of the ‘user community’ Costs of LRIT receiving equipment - “affordable” Lead time for transition to LRIT LRIT Content NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

4 Receive Equipment Costs –Spacecraft Transponder Output Power [EIRP] –CCSDS Format & Forward Error Correcting Coding –Enhanced Data Sets –User-Terminal Processing Transition Lead Time and Methods –2-years away from a full Operational LRIT on GOES –A single GOES cannot support simultaneous WEFAX/LRIT... It will be WEFAX-OR-LRIT! NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

5 LRIT Content –Operator Controlled –“Day-1” will be the current WEFAX Product Set –“Day-2” will be determined by the NESDIS/NWS Satellite Products and Service’s Review Board (SPSRB) Services Oversight Panel NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

6 THE PLAN -- –NESDIS performed a study to determine the architecture and resources necessary to produce the LRIT Service. (April 2001) Systems requirements definition and analysis, including architectures, costs, and schedules Product generation requirements (NESDIS and non- NOAA satellite imagery and products, and NWS forecast and model products) “User” Transition Concept for conversion from WEFAX –Traditional end-User, and user-station manufacturers NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

7 THE PLAN -- (continued) –NESDIS developed prototype LRIT receiver requirements (November 2002) –NESDIS made information available on the “Impacts” of LRIT on present (WEFAX) user- stations (December 2002) –NESDIS defined the “Day-1” Product Suite (December 2001) NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

8 THE PLAN -- (continued) –NESDIS provided detailed LRIT Test Transmission Content and Schedule (November 2002) –NESDIS will announce to the WMO and the User Community the final schedule for transition to and operation of LRIT (November 2002) NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

9 THE PLAN -- Technical Milestones –NESDIS conducted an evaluation/validation of the LRIT communications performance -- spacecraft transponder, transmission format, and receiver systems requirements (April 2001) –NESDIS LRIT uplink/downlink test system (October 2001) –NESDIS provides live LRIT test transmissions through a spare GOES NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

10 THE PLAN -- Technical Milestones –Operational LRIT begins on GOES-EAST January 2003 (Alternating LRIT and GOES-EAST WEFAX transmissions) –Operational LRIT begins on GOES-WEST As soon as practical after May 2003 (Alternating LRIT and GOES-WEST WEFAX transmissions) NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

11 Three Major issues are currently being worked by NESDIS to ensure successful implementation and utilization of NOAA LRIT services: –Validation and Testing of LRIT Communications Parameters –Design and Implementation of NOAA LRIT Ground Systems –Development and Availability of Affordable LRIT User-terminals NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

12 Communications Parameters –NESDIS RF Test Equipment, supplemented by METEOSAT LRIT Test and User-terminal Ground Systems –Spare in-orbit GOES-I/M Spacecraft –GOES-N Spacecraft in-plant at Boeing –NOAA LRIT Ground Processing System –Prototype NOAA LRIT user terminal NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

13 NOAA LRIT Ground System –Architecture Definition and Design Completed –Contractual Mechanisms in-place for Implementation –“Day-1” Products Exist –Data Communications Links Exist NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

14 Affordable User Terminals –European and Japanese versions exist –Chip-sets reduce front-end receive system risks –NESDIS working with the manufacturer to provide early, stable requirements for development NESDIS LRIT Implementation Plan

15 USA Plan of Satellite Operation and Data Dissemination WEFAX/ LRIT GOES-8 Operational Back-up GOES-10 Operational GOES-11 Test Launch GOES-12 Launch Back-up Operational Test Operational GOES-N Launch Test Operational WEFAX