Update #2: NOAA-18 was decommissioned on June 6, 2025 at 1740 UTC.

Update #1: Correction for Topic line.

Topic: Decommissioning of NOAA-18 scheduled for June 6, 2025 1733-1749 UTC 

Date/Time Issued: June 6, 2025 1801 UTC

Product(s) or Data Impacted: NOAA-18 data products

Date/Time of Initial Impact: June 6, 2025 1733-1749 UTC

Date/Time of expected end Time: N/A Decommissioning 

Duration: Permanent

Details: 

On May 31, 2025 at 1605 UTC, the NOAA-18 S-band Transmitter 4 (STX4) experienced a power drop from 7W to 0.8W. STX4 is the only remaining transmitter used for up-link (commanding) and downlink (telemetry & global science data from the recorder). Full recovery of the S-Band transmitter and its functionality is not possible, and therefore jeopardizes the ability to ensure safe operation of the spacecraft. Based on NOAA’s requirement to responsibly manage on-orbit assets, NOAA will decommission NOAA-18 on June 6, 2025 between 1733 and 1749 UTC. 

NOAA-18 is a legacy Polar Operational Environmental Satellites (POES) satellite and is operated with no performance or latency requirements. Users should transition to NOAA's Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS).  JPSS provides global observations that serve as the backbone of both short- and long-term forecasts, including those that help us predict and prepare for severe weather events. The five satellites scheduled in the fleet are the currently-flying NOAA/NASA Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite, NOAA-20, previously known as JPSS-1, NOAA-21, previously known as JPSS-2, and the upcoming JPSS-3 and JPSS-4 satellites.

Contact Information for Further Information: Please email User Services at spsd.userservices@noaa.gov