The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a U.S. government agency focused on science-based services and environmental intelligence. Within the space industry, NOAA plays a vital role in monitoring and forecasting space weather through its Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) and the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS). NOAA operates a network of satellites, including the GOES and DSCOVR, to track solar activity and its potential impacts on Earth, providing alerts and warnings to various sectors like satellite operations, power grids, and communication systems. NOAA collaborates with NASA and commercial partners on space weather programs like the Space Weather Next program, ensuring continuous space-based observations.
All verified mentions of this organization in source documents.
Taylor Jordan serves as the Director of the Office of Space Commerce and NOAA’s Assistant Secretary for Environmental Observation and Prediction.
NASA’s interagency partners for the Satellite Data Explorer include NOAA, USGS, and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency.
NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center uses SOLAR-1 observations to issue watches, warnings, alerts, and decision support before solar storms impact critical infrastructure and missions.
NOAA and NASA teams checked SOLAR-1’s power, on-board computer, propulsion, attitude-control, communications, and data storage systems during commissioning.
NOAA’s Space Weather Observations at L1 to Advance Readiness–1 (SOLAR-1) observatory has entered operational service.
SOLAR-1’s coronagraph will deliver coronal mass ejection imagery to NOAA forecasters and users within 30 minutes of capture.
The NOAA configuration will integrate an ARINC 791/792-compliant antenna baseplate with a Viasat Ku/Ka broadband antenna.
The initial NOAA installation will use Ku-band connectivity.
Lockheed Martin selected Viasat’s hybrid satellite communications platform for two next-generation C-130J Hercules aircraft being built for NOAA’s Hurricane Hunter program.
Viasat received a subcontract under Lockheed Martin’s prime contract to provide engineering support, terminal hardware, and structural integration data for the NOAA aircraft.
NOAA’s C-130J Super Hercules aircraft fly into tropical cyclones and hurricanes to collect atmospheric data for forecast models used by the National Hurricane Center.
The NOAA award is the first formal line-fit integration of Viasat’s Hybrid SATCOM Approach, or HSA, on the C-130J.
NOAA’s next-generation C-130J platforms are expected to replace legacy aircraft and enter service by 2030.
Viasat is providing engineering support, terminal hardware, and structural integration data for the NOAA C-130J program.
Lockheed Martin selected Viasat to provide high-bandwidth satellite communications technology for NOAA’s next-generation fleet of C-130J Hercules "Hurricane Hunter" aircraft.
SD Government, a Gogo company focused on military and government markets, has secured a multi-year blanket purchase agreement with NOAA to support airborne hurricane hunting activities via satellite communications ahead of the 2026 hurricane season.
The modular antenna baseplate architecture on the NOAA C-130J aircraft is designed to allow future upgrades without structural rework.
The NOAA agreement will support NOAA’s Aircraft Operations Center, which operates the Hurricane Hunter fleet.
The prime contract for NOAA’s C-130J aircraft includes options for additional aircraft beyond the initial two.
NOAA’s current application for the C-130J fleet focuses on Ku-band connectivity.