# NOAA-17

> defunct American weather satellite which broke up in orbit

**Wikidata**: [Q6954801](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6954801)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAA-17)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/noaa-17

## Summary
NOAA-17 was a defunct American weather satellite that broke up in orbit on March 10, 2021. Launched on June 24, 2002, it was part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation, designed for meteorological data collection.

## Key Facts
*   NOAA-17 was a defunct American weather satellite that broke up in orbit on March 10, 2021.
*   It was launched on June 24, 2002, at 18:23:04 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West.
*   The satellite was an Advanced TIROS-N model, manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
*   It operated as part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation.
*   NOAA-17 had a launch mass of 2232 kilograms and a dry mass of 1479 kilograms.
*   It orbited Earth in a Sun-synchronous orbit with an orbital period of 101.2 minutes.
*   Its operator was the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
*   The satellite was decommissioned on April 10, 2013.
*   It was preceded by NOAA-16 and followed by NOAA-18 in the series.

## FAQs
### Q: What was NOAA-17?
A: NOAA-17 was a defunct American weather satellite. It was part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation, used for collecting meteorological data.

### Q: When was NOAA-17 launched?
A: NOAA-17 was launched on June 24, 2002, at 18:23:04 UTC. The launch took place from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West.

### Q: What happened to NOAA-17?
A: NOAA-17 was decommissioned on April 10, 2013. Years later, on March 10, 2021, the satellite broke up in orbit.

### Q: Who operated NOAA-17?
A: NOAA-17 was operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

### Q: What type of satellite was NOAA-17?
A: NOAA-17 was an Advanced TIROS-N class meteorological satellite. It was a component of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation.

## Why It Matters
NOAA-17 played a crucial role as an American weather satellite within the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation. For over a decade, from its launch in 2002 until its decommissioning in 2013, it contributed to the collection of vital meteorological data from its Sun-synchronous orbit. This data was essential for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and environmental research, supporting various applications from daily weather predictions to long-term climate studies. Its mission exemplified the continuous effort to gather comprehensive global environmental information. Furthermore, the satellite's eventual breakup in orbit in 2021, years after it ceased operations, serves as a significant case study in the growing challenge of orbital debris. This event highlights the long-term implications of space operations and the importance of responsible end-of-life planning for spacecraft to ensure the sustainability of the space environment.

## Notable For
*   Being a defunct American weather satellite that broke up in orbit on March 10, 2021.
*   Operating as part of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation.
*   Being an Advanced TIROS-N class meteorological satellite.
*   Its launch aboard a Titan 23G expendable launch vehicle.

## Body

### Overview
NOAA-17, also known by its aliases NOAA 17, NOAA-M, and NOAA M, was an American weather satellite. It was an instance of the Advanced TIROS-N class of meteorological satellites and was a component of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation. The satellite was manufactured by Lockheed Martin and operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Its country of origin was the United States.

### Launch and Operations
NOAA-17 was launched on June 24, 2002, at 18:23:04 UTC. The launch vehicle used was a Titan 23G, specifically the 23G-14 variant. The launch site was Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 West. The satellite was placed into a Sun-synchronous orbit around Earth. Its initial epoch was June 24, 2002, at 18:23 UTC.

### Technical Specifications
*   **Mass:**
    *   Launch weight: 2232 kilograms
    *   Dry weight: 1479 kilograms
*   **Power:** Powered by a spacecraft solar array, generating 833 watts.
*   **Orbital Parameters (as of a reference date):**
    *   Apoapsis: 823 kilometres
    *   Periapsis: 807 kilometres
    *   Orbital period: 101.2 minutes
    *   Orbital inclination: 98.8 degrees
    *   Orbital eccentricity: 0.00111
*   **Identifiers:**
    *   SCN: 27453
    *   COSPAR ID: 2002-032A
    *   NSSDC ID: 2002-032A

### End of Life
NOAA-17 underwent spacecraft decommissioning on April 10, 2013. Years after its decommissioning, the satellite experienced a significant event: its destruction, or breakup, in orbit on March 10, 2021. This event led to its classification as a defunct American weather satellite which broke up in orbit.

### Relationships
*   **Class:** Advanced TIROS-N
*   **Launch Vehicle:** Titan 23G
*   **Part of:** Polar Operational Environmental Satellites
*   **Preceded by:** NOAA-16
*   **Followed by:** NOAA-18

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  "name": "NOAA-17",
  "description": "Defunct American weather satellite which broke up in orbit.",
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  "alternateName": ["NOAA 17", "NOAA-M", "NOAA M"],
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  "operator": {
    "@type": "Organization",
    "name": "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration"
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  "countryOfOrigin": "United States",
  "launchDate": "2002-06-24T18:23:04Z",
  "dissolvedDate": "2021-03-10",
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## References

1. [Source](http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt)
2. [Source](https://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/339)
3. [Source](https://spacenews.com/decommissioned-noaa-weather-satellite-breaks-up/)
4. [Source](https://web.archive.org/web/20130513213632/http://www.oso.noaa.gov/poesstatus/spacecraftStatusSummary.asp?spacecraft=17)
5. [Source](https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/displayTrajectory.action?id=2002-032A)