ARGOS O/C 37, NOAA

Prepared by: Chris O'Connors

**Agenda Item E-2.4: NPOESS**

**[NPOESS SARSAT/ARGOS Executive Summary]{.underline}**

A two day meeting was held in the end of January that focused on
coordination between NOAA, NASA, IPO, CNES, and NOAA IA. The first day's
agenda addressed issues with the SARSAT program and the SARP instrument
planned for the NPOESS era of satellites. Day two of the meeting
centered on ADCS instrument for the Argos program on NPOESS. A draft
meeting report for the second day of the meeting is available with
detailed information on discussions and participants at NOAA/DSD. The
main topics of discussion were HRD/LRD requirements to carry Argos data,
proposing to place an existing Argos instrument on the 2130 NPOESS orbit
currently not scheduled to carry Argos, and MOU creation and timeline
for approval.

**[HRD/LRD Real Time Transmission of NPOESS Data]{.underline}**

Argos data collection and latency issues were discussed. CNES expressed
a desire for Argos data to be included on the LRD link for enhanced
service to customers regionally. Northrup/Gruman (NG) Safety Net 15
ground station system is viewed as a method of reducing data latency
globally by improving on the existing POES (GAC, LAC) system with HRD
data stream. The NPOESS real time data stream or LDR will replace the
HPRT data stream. Currently LRD does not plan on carrying the Argos
dataset available on the POES real time system HRPT serviced by 30
ground stations world wide. By adding Argos dataset to LRD data stream
you can take advantage of the existing network of 30 HRPT stations and
reduce or maintain the latency of Argos data for the users. In addition
the HRPT stations in the future may provide additional coverage globally
to supplement the Safety Net ground stations.

Possible justification for adding ARGOS to the LRD data stream presented
at the meeting was, small data set (15kb/sec), Enhanced or continuity of
regional latency times for customers, and it's currently available on
the POES satellites as part of the real time data stream (HRPT).

NG had questions about the antenna requirements and NOAA agreed to
research those requirements. Three action items resulted from the
discussion.

**[Carriage of Argos Instruments on NPOESS Orbits]{.underline}**

Currently, Argos instruments are slated for all NPOESS orbits except the
2130 orbit. CNES advocates that as many Argos instruments as possible be
flown for redundancy and more coverage. CNES is exploring the
possibility of using a METOP instrument destined for METOP-3 on the
NPOESS 2130 orbit. The METOP-3 launch data is significantly far enough
in the future that the current technology of the ARGOS-3 instrument may
be improved in the intersessional period. Three questions were
identified as to the feasibility of the CNES suggestion. What is the
requirement, CNES/CLS needs to further define the benefits of redundancy
and additional coverage. Second can it be technically done, which is
less of an issue since ARGOS-3 instrument is of the same design planned
for other NPOESS satellites. Thirdly what are the costs associated with
the addition of the ARGOS instrument to the 2130 orbit configuration.
Costs of integration can be significant, but ultimately it's a JARG/SUAG
decision. Continuity of operations between NPOESS and other systems
remains a priority.

IPO raised questions about instrument liability during shipping and
handling. An action was recorded to address this concern.

**[NPOESS MOU Timeline]{.underline}**

Emile Bruchon (NOAA/IA) stated that a draft MOU was ready to begin the
internal review process. The identified IA review process is:

-   Draft MOU generation in IA

-   NOAA clearance in--house

-   Reviewed and Cleared by the State Department

-   Negotiation and comment review with international partners

Emile expected that the MOU would be ready for international review no
sooner than 2 months with up to 3 months possible. Emile took the action
to provide NOAA DSD and IPO with the draft for the start of the in-house
NOAA review process.

**[Update]{.underline}**

Since this meeting took place all three of these discussion topics were
updated at the Argos Intersessional Meeting. The first two topics were
resolved to; HRD should fulfill all of the Argos systems needs; CNES
withdrew the Argos Instrument for Metop-3 for use on the NPOESS 2130
orbit. The Argos MOU cleared NOAA internal review and was submitted to
the US State Department. Further updates for MOU to be provide by
Emillie Bruchon under Agenda item H-1.