
NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have launched the first of four Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) satellites, which are designed to provide more accurate weather forecasts than existing polar-orbiting satellites.JPSS-1 lifted off on a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Delta 2 rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California at 1:47 a.m. Pacific time Nov. 18. About 63 minutes later, the satellite deployed its solar arrays and was operating on its own power. The Delta 2 also…