The NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) was renamed to Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) in honor of Verner E. Suomi, University of Wisconsin meteorologist, widely recognized as the "Father of Satellite Meteorology."

SNPP is the first next generation polar-orbiting satellite. Launched in 2011, SNPP boasts five instruments: (1) VIIRS, (2) CrIS, (3) ATMS, (4) OMPS, and (5) CERES— which will be the same main instruments carried on JPSS-1, which is scheduled to launch in early 2017. Its design life is five years and it was launched with a Delta-II Mission Launch Vehicle from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California.

JPSS-1 is the second spacecraft within NOAA's next generation of polar-orbiting satellites. It is scheduled to launch in early 2017. Capitalizing on the success of Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP), the JPSS-1 spacecraft boasts the same five instruments: (1) VIIRS, (2) CrIS, (3) ATMS, (4) OMPS-N, and (5) CERES-FM6— currently hosted on SNPP. Instruments can also be called sensors or payloads. JPSS-1 will take advantage of the successful technologies developed through the Suomi NPP satellite. JPSS-1's design life is seven years, and it is scheduled to launch aboard a Delta-II Mission Launch Vehicle.

JPSS-2 will provide operational continuity of satellite-based observations and products for NOAA Polar-Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES) and SNPP satellite and ground systems. The baseline plan for JPSS Ground System will be sustained to support JPSS-2, similar to JPSS-1. The JPSS-2 spacecraft will host the following instruments: (1) VIIRS, (2) CrIS, (3) ATMS, and (4) OMPS.

The Total Solar Irradiance (TSI) Calibration Transfer Experiment (TCTE) is the experimental payload under the JPSS system. It is being hosted aboard a U.S. Air Force satellite, STPSat-3, and is tentatively scheduled for launch in Winter 2013. JPSS was able to take advantage of this rideshare opportunity to provide a low-cost means in maintaining continuity of TSI observations.