Artist’s rendition of the DSMP 19 satellite. Photo: Lockheed Martin

[Via Satellite 09-18-2014] The United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) has taken operational control of the Lockheed Martin-built Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) 19 satellite. United Launch Alliance (ULA) launched the satellite on April 3, 2014, after which Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and the U.S. Air Force performed on-orbit checkout procedures. The Air Force and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will control DMSP 19. It is the fourth Block 5D 3 version launched in the DMSP constellation.

DMSP 19 joins six “sister satellites” in polar orbit around the Earth. The spacecraft is capable of measuring precipitation, surface temperature and solar-geophysical information, among other data, regardless of weather conditions.

“DMSP-19 delivers information for important military decisions, from flight patterns to troop movements, and its information will be used by civilians for everyday weather forecasting and warning,” said Sue Stretch, DMSP program director at Lockheed Martin.