NASA Weather Satellite Set to Launch Friday With EEOS Prof. Schaaf’s Research Instrument Aboard

New Professor of Environmental, Earth, and Ocean Sciences Crystal Schaaf is on her way to Vandenberg Air Force Base (near Santa Barbara, CA) in hopes of watching the launch of the next-generation NPP (NPOESS Preparatory Project) weather satellite, which is carrying the Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS). VIIRS is one of five instruments on the NPP platform that will collect data on both long-term climate change and short-term weather conditions. As a member of the NASA VIIRS Science Team, Schaaf is in charge of evaluating the quality of the VIIRS albedo and reflectance products. NPP is currently scheduled for launch at 2:48 a.m. PDT, Friday, October 28, 2011.

You can learn more about NPP and the launch at:

• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NPP/main/index.html
• http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/NPP/launch/launch_blog.html
• http://spaceflightnow.com/delta/d357/status.html