Extending climate data records from the EOS era into the NPOESS era

In preparation for the future National Polar Orbiting Operational Satellite System (NPOESS) NASA and the Integrated Program Office are conducting the NPOESS Preparatory project (NPP), a mission to provide risk reduction for the NPOESS and data continuity for global change researchers. We summarize the sensor capabilities, orbital characteristics, and the data that produces the Climate Data Records (CDRs). We describe NASA plans to work with the IPO and its systems contractor, Northrop Grumman Space Technologies, on sensor characterization and calibration, algorithm evolution and the production of CDRs.