Hickenlooper, Murkowski, King Make Bipartisan Push to Protect Integrity of Satellite Weather Data

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper, Lisa Murkowski, and Angus King sent a bipartisan letter urging the Department of Defense (DoD) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to prioritize the integrity of satellite weather data as the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) approaches end of service. “For decades, DMSP’s Special Sensor Microwave Imager/Sounder (SSMIS) has supported hurricane forecasting, severe-weather monitoring, polar and sea-ice analysis, and military operations in data-sparse and denied environments. That coverage is now shrinking as legacy polar-orbiting microwave sensors age out. ” wrote the senators. “ To improve and prevent degradation of numerical weather prediction and tactical forecasting, the DoD and NOAA should evaluate the transition across the broader space architecture, including commercial satellite systems that can complement government capabilities.” Weather forecasters, researchers, and military planners have used data from DMSP satellites for decades to predict and monitor other extreme weather patterns. Last month, the U.S. Space Force announced they would maintain the DMSP fleet until at least 2028 until it transitions to a new replacement architecture. The senators concluded: “Weather data continuity is essential to national security, public safety, and economic resilience. Extending DMSP is a promising step, and we urge the DoD and NOAA to proactively identify and fill anticipated gaps before legacy degradation or replacement delays create preventable risks.” Last year, the DoD reversed its decision to stop sharing DMSP data with NOAA and the scientific community after Hickenlooper and Murkowski urged DoD and NOAA to reconsider and address the implications canceling DMSP would have on weather forecasting and scientific research, especially in polar regions. Congress extended DMSP operations in the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act and a Hickenlooper-led amendment to the bill ensured the continuity of data sharing for the duration of the DMSP mission. “With increasing national attention on changes in the Arctic, including Greenland, and the associated economic, geopolitical, and strategic implications, it is critical that we maintain our ability to monitor and understand conditions on the ground,” said Mark Serreze, Distinguished Professor of Geography and Director of the National Snow and Ice Data Center in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder. “The DMSP satellites have been a key asset in this regard for decades. Colorado is a national leader in scientific research of the polar regions and we applaud the efforts of Senator Hickenlooper to raise attention to this important matter.” For full text of the letter, see HERE . ###