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Launch SuccessfulUnited States Air Force

Delta II: NOAA 18

NOAA-18, known before launch as NOAA-N, is a weather forecasting satellite run by NOAA. NOAA-N (18) was launched on May 20, 2005, into a sun-synchronous orbit at an altitude of 854 km above the Earth, with an orbital period of 102 minutes. It hosts the AMSU-A, MHS, AVHRR, Space Environment Monitor SEM/2 instrument and High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS) instruments, as well as the SBUV/2 ozone-monitoring instrument. It is the first NOAA POES satellite to use MHS in place of AMSU-B. NOAA-18 also hosts Cospas-Sarsat payloads.

Friday, 20 May 2005
Delta II: NOAA 18

Mission Data

United States Air Force
🇺🇸United States Air ForceEst. 1947
Launch VehicleDelta II 7320-10C
Vehicle FamilyDelta
Vehicle Record6 of 6 launches (100%)
Provider TypeGovernment
Agency Record972 successes / 106 failures (90%)
Success Streak68 consecutive
Mission TypeEarth Science
Target OrbitSun-Synchronous Orbit
Launch PadSpace Launch Complex 2W
Location🇺🇸 Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA USA
Orbital Launches This Year#18
Agency Launches This Year#3
Launches From This Pad99
Launches From This Site923
Status Note

The launch vehicle successfully inserted its payload(s) into the target orbit(s).

About Delta II 7320-10C

Delta II is an American space launch system developed by McDonnell Douglas, now part of the Delta rocket family operated by United Launch Alliance. With more than 150 missions and a nearly perfect track record, Delta II has established itself as one of the most successful orbital launch systems.

Launch Site

Space Launch Complex 2W · 34.7556°N 120.6224°W

Launch data from Launch Library 2 by The Space Devs.