Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, DMSP-F18

DMSP-F18, also known as DMSP 5D-3 F18 or USA 210, is a US Department of Defense weather
satellite launched on an Atlas 5 rocket on 18 October 2009 at 16:12 UT from Vandenberg. The 1,200 kg
satellite, one of several in the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, will provide terrestrial
and space weather data from a near-polar, Sun-synchronous, 830 km altitude orbit with the Local
Time nodes for DMSP F18 of 20:00 and 8:00. The DMSP satellites
monitor the meteorological, oceanographic and solar-terrestrial physics environments. The primary weather
sensor on DMSP is the Operational Linescan System, which provides continuous visual and infrared imagery
of cloud cover. Additional satellite sensors measure atmospheric vertical profiles of moisture and
temperature. DMSP satellites also measure space environmental parameters such as local charged
particles and electromagnetic fields.

DMSP-F18，亦称DMSP 5D-3 F18或USA 210，系美国国防部发射的气象卫星，搭载Atlas 5火箭于2009年10月18日16:12 UTC时从范登堡空军基地升空。该卫星重达1,200千克，是数颗国防气象卫星计划（Defense Meteorological Satellite Program）中的之一，将从近极地、太阳同步、海拔830公里的轨道上提供地面及空间天气数据，DMSP F18的当地时间节点为20:00和8:00。DMSP卫星负责监测气象、海洋学以及太阳-地球物理环境。DMSP的主要气象传感器为操作线扫描系统，它能提供连续的云层可视和红外图像。此外，卫星上的其他传感器测量大气垂直方向的水分和温度分布。DMSP卫星还测量空间环境参数，例如局部带电粒子和电磁场。