On June 24. 2002. a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spacecraft.
named NOAA-M. lifted off from Vandenberg Air Force Base. California.
on an Air Force-launched Titan II rocket. NOAA-M was renamed NOAA-17
after achieving orbit.
NOAA-17 is the third in a series of five Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental
Satellites. The satellite's focus is to improve weather forecasting and monitor
environmental events. such as droughts. fires. and floods. all around the world.
Like other NOAA satellites. NOAA-17 collects meteorological data and transmits
the information to users around the world. In the United States. the data is used
primarily by NOAA's National Weather Service for its long-range weather
and climate forecasts.