JPSS-1 will join the NOAA/NASA Suomi NPP satellite in the same polar orbit, also providing scientists with observations of atmospheric temperature and moisture, clouds, sea-surface temperature, ocean color, sea-ice cover, volcanic ash, and fire detection.
On Nov. 18, 2017, the Joint Polar Satellite System-1, the first in a new series of four highly advanced NOAA polar-orbiting satellites, lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.