# Weather System Follow-on Microwave 1

> U.S. Department of Defense meteorology satellite

**Wikidata**: [Q48844777](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48844777)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weather_System_Follow-on_Microwave_Program)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/weather-system-follow-on-microwave-1

## Summary
Weather System Follow-on Microwave 1 (WSF‑M1) is a U.S. Department of Defense meteorology satellite launched on 2024-04-11. It is a military weather satellite built by Ball Aerospace, operated by the United States Space Force, and placed into a sun-synchronous orbit using a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle.

## Key Facts
- Official name: Weather System Follow-on Microwave 1 (aliases: WSF-M1, WSF-M 1, WSF-M SV1, WSF-M).  
- Mission type / instance_of: weather satellite and military satellite.  
- Operator: United States Space Force.  
- Manufacturer: Ball Aerospace & Technologies.  
- Launch date and time: 2024-04-11 (launch time qualifier: 14:25).  
- Launch site: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E).  
- Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5 (booster/core referenced as B1082; qualifier B1082.3 present).  
- Mass (launch weight): 1,200 kilograms.  
- Orbit type: Sun-synchronous orbit.  
- Identifiers: COSPAR ID 2024-070A; SCN 59481; Google Knowledge Graph ID /g/11f382n9wk.  
- Power: spacecraft solar array.  
- Country of origin: United States.  
- Related program title (wikipedia): Weather System Follow-on Microwave Program.

## FAQs
### Q: What is Weather System Follow-on Microwave 1?
A: Weather System Follow-on Microwave 1 (WSF‑M1) is a U.S. Department of Defense meteorology satellite and a military weather satellite operated by the United States Space Force.

### Q: When and how was WSF‑M1 launched?
A: WSF‑M1 was launched on 2024-04-11 at 14:25 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 launch vehicle (booster referenced as B1082).

### Q: Who built and operates WSF‑M1?
A: The satellite was manufactured by Ball Aerospace & Technologies and is operated by the United States Space Force.

### Q: What orbit does WSF‑M1 use and how heavy is it?
A: WSF‑M1 was placed into a sun-synchronous orbit and had a launch weight of 1,200 kilograms.

### Q: What are other identifiers or names for this satellite?
A: COSPAR ID 2024-070A, SCN 59481, Google KG ID /g/11f382n9wk, and aliases include WSF-M1, WSF-M 1, WSF-M SV1, and WSF-M.

## Why It Matters
Weather System Follow-on Microwave 1 is a U.S. Department of Defense asset dedicated to meteorological operations. As a military weather satellite built by Ball Aerospace and operated by the United States Space Force, it expands and modernizes the DoD’s space-based meteorological capabilities. Its placement into a sun-synchronous orbit allows it to operate in a repeatable orbital regime commonly used for Earth-observing and weather-monitoring missions. The satellite’s launch on a Falcon 9 Block 5 underscores the continuing use of commercial launch vehicles for government and defense missions. At a launch weight of 1,200 kg and powered by spacecraft solar arrays, WSF‑M1 represents a purpose-built platform for ongoing meteorological support to defense planning and operations. Its addition to the Weather System Follow-on Microwave Program marks a concrete step in sustaining and upgrading the United States’ operational space-based weather resources.

## Notable For
- Being a U.S. Department of Defense meteorology satellite operated by the United States Space Force.  
- Launch on 2024-04-11 from Vandenberg SLC-4E using a SpaceX Falcon 9 Block 5 (booster B1082).  
- Manufactured by Ball Aerospace & Technologies.  
- Launch weight of 1,200 kilograms and powered by spacecraft solar arrays.  
- Assigned COSPAR ID 2024-070A and SCN 59481.

## Body

### Overview
- Name: Weather System Follow-on Microwave 1 (WSF‑M1).  
- Description: U.S. Department of Defense meteorology satellite; classified as both a weather satellite and a military satellite.  
- Program reference: Associated with the Weather System Follow-on Microwave Program (wikipedia title).

### Technical specifications
- Launch weight: 1,200 kg (criterion used: launch weight).  
- Power: spacecraft solar array.  
- Manufacturer: Ball Aerospace & Technologies.  
- Instance of: weather satellite; military satellite.

### Launch details
- Launch date (point in time): 2024-04-11.  
- Launch time qualifier: 14:25.  
- Launch site / start point: Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E).  
- Launch vehicle: Falcon 9 Block 5.  
- Booster/core reference: B1082 (qualifier indicates B1082.3 in provided properties).

### Orbit and mission type
- Orbit: Sun-synchronous orbit.  
- Mission type: meteorology / weather observations for the U.S. Department of Defense (as described in the entity description).

### Operator and manufacturer
- Operator: United States Space Force.  
- Manufacturer: Ball Aerospace & Technologies.  
- Country of origin: United States.

### Identifiers and aliases
- COSPAR ID: 2024-070A.  
- SCN: 59481.  
- Google Knowledge Graph ID: /g/11f382n9wk.  
- Aliases: WSF-M1; WSF-M 1; WSF-M SV1; WSF-M.  
- Wikipedia program title: Weather System Follow-on Microwave Program.  
- Wikipedia language availability for the program: English, French, Indonesian (en, fr, id).

### Significant event
- Recorded significant event: rocket launch on 2024-04-11 from Vandenberg Space Launch Complex 4 East (as noted in structured properties).

## References

1. [Source](https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/wsf-m.htm)
2. Jonathan's Space Report
3. [Source](https://nextspaceflight.com/launches/details/6962)
4. SATCAT