United Launch AllianceDelta II 7920-10CSpace Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

NPP

Launched

October 28, 2011

Launch Successful

Summary

Suomi NPP launched on an United Launch Alliance Delta II 7920-10C from Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA on October 28, 2011. It was United Launch Alliance's 56th launch, 10th this year and humanity's 5,170th orbital launch attempt. It was the 17th Delta II 7920-10C flight and the 1st this year. The payload was bound for Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO). Suomi NPP, one of 7 catalogued objects, reached a 189 × 739 km orbit inclined 107.3°. 7 objects from this launch are catalogued, 6 of them payloads.

Watch: NPP LaunchNASA Video
Vehicle: Delta II 7920-10C · United Launch Alliance
Booster: No booster details on record.
Mission: Earth Science · Sun-Synchronous Orbit (SSO)
Milestone: 17th Delta II 7920-10C flight · 1st this yearUnited Launch Alliance's 56th launch10th this yearhumanity's 5,170th orbital launch attempt64th orbital launch attempt this year

Webcast

Replay

Watch on YouTube

Flight preview

Orbit: as tracked

107.3°Inclination

189 × 739 kmPerigee × apogeefrom mean elements

93.7 minPeriodfrom mean elements

233.0°Ascending node

5467 d agoElement epoch2011-10-28 12:25 UTC · stale

Suomi NPP · NORAD 37849 · 2011-061 · Space-Track · tracking 1 of 7 objects

Show the numbers

Object: OBJECT A
Object ID: 2011-061A
Epoch: 2011-10-28 12:25:03 UTC
Mean motion: 15.36312973 rev/day
Eccentricity: 0.0402126
Inclination: 107.3274°
Ascending node: 232.9875°
Arg. of perigee: 334.5924°
Mean anomaly: 23.5976°
Element set: 999
Rev at epoch: 0
B*: 0

Perigee, apogee and period are Kepler figures from the catalogued mean elements, not a propagated state. Published orbit: SSO. Ascent drawn from padside's representative profile.

Catalogued objects

7 catalogued: 6 payloads, 1 rocket stage; 1 still in orbit

Suomi NPP · NORAD 37849 · in orbit
DICE-1 · NORAD 37851 · re-entered August 11, 2024
DICE-2 · NORAD 37852 · re-entered May 7, 2024
RAX-2 · NORAD 37853 · re-entered October 6, 2024
AubieSat-OSCAR-71 · NORAD 37854 · re-entered June 1, 2024
Hiscock Rad. Belt Explorer · NORAD 37855 · re-entered June 30, 2024

Delta 357 · re-entered November 29, 2011

Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org

About this launch

The National Polar-orbiting Partnership satellite, later named Suomi NPP, was a NASA and NOAA weather and climate satellite carrying VIIRS, CrIS, ATMS, OMPS and CERES instruments, bridging the EOS research satellites and the JPSS operational series.

News

1 story

NASA · Oct 14Hurricane Simon Lurks Off the Mexican CoastThough it remained offshore, the storm lashed coastal areas with high winds and flooding—and produced remarkable rippling patterns in the upper atmosphere.

Pad

Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

88th launch from Space Launch Complex 2W, 2nd this year · 650th from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

99 launches from this pad · 919 from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

139 days after the previous launch from this pad

All launches from Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA Open in maps

Questions

When did Suomi NPP launch?

Suomi NPP launched on October 28, 2011. The time is known to the hour, not the minute.

Where can I watch Suomi NPP?

Coverage: NPP Launch. Watch the replay

What rocket launched Suomi NPP?

Delta II 7920-10C, flown by United Launch Alliance. Delta II 7920-10C spec sheet

Where did Suomi NPP launch from?

Space Launch Complex 2W, Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA.

What orbit did Suomi NPP reach?

Suomi NPP, one of 7 catalogued objects, reached a 189 × 739 km orbit inclined 107.3°.

How many satellites did Suomi NPP launch?

6 payloads from this launch are catalogued, 1 of them still in orbit (Data from J. McDowell, planet4589.org).