# NOAA-18

> American weather satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q6954805](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q6954805)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NOAA-18)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/noaa-18

## Summary
NOAA-18 is an American weather satellite launched on May 20, 2005, as part of the Advanced TIROS-N satellite model and the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites constellation. It was operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to monitor weather and climate from a sun-synchronous orbit.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date**: 2005-05-20 at 10:22:01 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West  
- **Mass**: 2,232 kg at takeoff; 1,479 kg dry weight  
- **Operator**: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)  
- **Mission Class**: Advanced TIROS-N model of meteorological satellites  
- **Constellation**: Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES)  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Delta II rocket (model D312)  
- **Orbit**: Sun-synchronous orbit  
- **Manufacturer**: Lockheed Martin  
- **Powered By**: Photovoltaic system generating 833 watts  

## FAQs
### Q: What is NOAA-18?  
A: NOAA-18 is an American weather satellite launched in 2005, designed to monitor weather and climate patterns from polar orbit. It belongs to the Advanced TIROS-N series and is part of the POES constellation.

### Q: Who operated NOAA-18?  
A: NOAA-18 was operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a U.S. scientific agency.

### Q: When was NOAA-18 launched?  
A: It was launched on May 20, 2005, at 10:22:01 UTC from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West.

### Q: What was NOAA-18's purpose?  
A: Its purpose was to collect meteorological data for weather forecasting and climate monitoring, operating as a weather satellite in sun-synchronous orbit.

## Why It Matters
NOAA-18 played a critical role in advancing Earth observation capabilities by providing real-time weather data essential for forecasting, disaster response, and climate studies. As part of the POES constellation—a long-running series of polar-orbiting satellites—it enabled continuous monitoring of global atmospheric conditions, ocean surfaces, and environmental changes. Its high-resolution instruments supported meteorological services worldwide, improving hurricane tracking, drought prediction, and agricultural planning. By bridging climate research and practical applications, NOAA-18 contributed to enhancing public safety, economic resilience, and scientific understanding of environmental systems.

## Notable For
- Being part of the Advanced TIROS-N model, a successor to early TIROS weather satellites.  
- Launching on a Delta II rocket, a workhorse for U.S. space missions.  
- Operating in a sun-synchronous orbit, ensuring consistent daylight imaging of Earth.  
- Weighing 2,232 kg at launch, reflecting the robust construction required for long-duration missions.  
- Generating 833 watts of power via photovoltaic systems to sustain its instruments.  

## Body
### Mission and Design  
NOAA-18 is classified as a weather satellite and specifically an instance of the Advanced TIROS-N model. It was manufactured by Lockheed Martin and operated by NOAA. The satellite was powered by a photovoltaic system capable of 833 watts and launched on a Delta II rocket (model D312).  

### Orbital and Physical Specifications  
- **Orbit**: Sun-synchronous orbit, ensuring regular revisit times for consistent data collection.  
- **Mass**: 2,232 kg at launch (including fuel) and 1,479 kg dry weight.  
- **Dimensions**: No specific dimensions provided in the source material.  
- **Power Source**: Photovoltaic system with 833-watt capacity.  

### Operational Context  
As a member of the Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) constellation, NOAA-18 complemented other weather satellites to cover global coverage. It succeeded NOAA-17 (which broke up in orbit) and was succeeded by NOAA-19. The satellite followed the Advanced TIROS-N design lineage, a model developed for American meteorological purposes.  

### Launch and Deployment  
- **Launch Site**: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 2 West, California.  
- **Launch Date/Time**: 2005-05-20 at 10:22:01 UTC.  
- **Launch Vehicle**: Delta II (D312 configuration).  
- **Significant Event**: Rocket launch recorded as a key orbital insertion event.  

### Identifiers  
- **COSPAR ID**: 2005-018A  
- **NSSDCA ID**: 2005-018A  
- **SCN (Satellite Catalog Number)**: 28654  
- **Wikipedia Title**: NOAA-18  
- **Wikidata Entity**: /m/02qs7yg  

### Related Entities  
- **Class**: Weather satellite, Advanced TIROS-N, Polar Operational Environmental Satellites.  
- **Related Systems**: Delta II launch vehicle, NOAA-17 (predecessor), NOAA-19 (successor).  

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  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "NOAA-18",
  "description": "American weather satellite launched in 2005, part of the Advanced TIROS-N model and POES constellation.",
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  "sameAs": [
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  "additionalType": "Weather satellite",
  "manufacturer": "Lockheed Martin",
  "launchDate": "2005-05-20",
  "operator": "National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration",
  "orbit": "Sun-synchronous orbit",
  "launchVehicle": "Delta II",
  "mass": {
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  }
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## References

1. [Source](http://planet4589.org/space/log/launchlog.txt)
2. [Source](https://www.wmo-sat.info/oscar/satellites/view/340)