VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. –
Defense Logistics Agency Energy Aerospace Energy provided the fuel for a Delta II rocket launch at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, Nov. 18.
The rocket carried the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Joint Polar Satellite System-1, part of an interagency project to improve weather forecasting and aid in the recognition of climate patterns, help emergency managers respond to events and help communities recover from severe storms.
DLA Energy Aerospace Energy partnered with NOAA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Vandenberg Air Force Base and United Launch Alliance for this complex project. Aerospace Energy not only provided the fuel not only needed for lift-off and to sustain the spacecraft but also the hydrazine for the satellite itself.
“DLA Energy has long-term contracts in place to support both the RP-1 fuel used on the Delta II rocket as well as for hydrazine on the satellite,” said Aerospace Energy Director Douglas Smith. “The containers, transportation, storage, inventory management and contract administration are all managed out of our San Antonio office.”
The JPSS-1, called NOAA-20 while in orbit, is the first of four next-generation satellites being launched. The JPSS satellites will circle the Earth from pole-to-pole and cross the equator about 14 times daily providing full global coverage twice a day, helping to improve the timeliness and accuracy of U.S. weather forecasts three to seven days out, according to NOAA.
“The value of the new JPSS satellite cannot be understated after this tragic hurricane season,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in a recent article. “JPSS offers an unparalleled perspective on our planet’s weather, granting NOAA advanced insights which will be used to guard American lives and communities.”
The system will be used to collect data about the atmosphere, land and oceans and will support applications like ocean dynamics research, volcanic eruptions monitoring, atmosphere soundings of temperature and humidity, and weather analysis.
“Our Aerospace Energy team was excited to see the successful launch of the Delta II Rocket carrying the JPSS-1 satellite knowing that we played a part in making it happen,” said Smith. “It brought home to the team that what we do is important to the space launch community…that each member of the team makes a difference and the impact of their hard work and dedicated efforts extends beyond what we do here in San Antonio.”
DLA Energy Aerospace Energy provides specialty fuels, cryogens, compressed gases and related products to Department of Defense and other federal agencies in support of DLA’s Strategic Plan line of effort, Whole of Government.