NOAA-N'

The NOAA-N' (NOAA N-Prime) is the last of the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's POES series of weather satellites prior to the launch of the risk reduction satellite called NPOESS Preparatory Project.

On September 6, 2003, the satellite was badly damaged while being worked on at the Lockheed Martin Space Systems factory in Sunnyvale, California. The satellite fell to the floor as a team was turning it into a horizontal position. A NASA inquiry into the mishap determined that it was caused by a lack of procedural discipline throughout the facility. While the turn-over cart used during the procedure was in storage, a technician removed twenty-four bolts securing an adapter plate to it without documenting the action. The team subsequently using the cart to turn the satellite failed to check the bolts before attempting to move the satellite. [cite news |url=http://www.rocketmanblog.com/2003/11/noaan_prime_acc.html |date=November 13, 2003 |title=NOAA-N Prime Accident Investigation |publisher=Rocket Man Blog |accessdate=2006-07-07] Lockheed Martin agreed to pay for repairs to the satellite out of profits it was to earn on the program. [cite news |url=http://www.space.com/spacenews/businessmonday_041011.html |title=Lockheed Martin Profits To Pay for NOAA N-Prime Repairs |first=Jason |last=Bates |publisher=Space News |date=July 7, 2005 |accessdate=2006-07-07]

The satellite's assigned launch vehicle is a Delta II with a launch date of no earlier than 2009-02-04. [cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/missions/highlights/schedule.html |title=NASA's Shuttle and Rocket Missions - Launch Schedule |publisher=NASA |date=2008-07-30]

References

External links

* [http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/65776main_noaa_np_mishap.pdf NOAA N-PRIME Mishap Investigation Final Report] , September 13, 2004
* [http://www.phys.unsw.edu.au/%7Emap/weather/notes/2003-06-03_noaa-n_prime_anomaly.jpgPicture of accident]