For nearly six decades, NOAA’s APT (Automatic Picture Transmission) satellites have allowed hobbyists and educators to receive low-res weather images with just a small antenna and decoder. But the end is here.
After the STX‑4 S‑band transmitter power dropped drastically on May 31, 2025, NOAA determined the satellite was no longer safely controllable. On June 6, 2025, between 17:33 and 17:49 UTC, NOAA‑18 was officially decommissioned, ceasing all functions including APT and commanding.
NOAA‑18 had been a staple in the APT lineup since its launch in 2005. It faithfully transmitted real-time weather imagery to anyone with a basic antenna and SDR setup. Its retirement marks the first official end of APT support in the NOAA‑18 lineage—and is a clear signal that NOAA is moving on from this legacy technology.
As of mid‑2025, NOAA‑15 and NOAA‑19 remain the only operational NOAA satellites still broadcasting APT imagery. However, NOAA has publicly acknowledged that:
“APT service will continue from NOAA‑15 or NOAA‑19 for as long as the equipment continues to function. But if these transmitters fail or experience technical issues, NOAA will not repair or replace them.”
This means any hardware failure—whether minor or catastrophic—will result in a permanent loss of APT capability from that satellite.
NOAA‑15, launched in 1998, is already showing signs of degradation. It has experienced frequent telemetry and transmitter issues, leading to corrupted image data and intermittent outages. NOAA‑19, launched in 2009, has remained more stable, but it too is aging and vulnerable to failure at any time.
APT was a marvel when first introduced. Its simplicity and availability opened the door to satellite weather reception for hobbyists and schools around the world. But in the age of high-resolution, real-time digital satellite systems, APT is technologically obsolete.
Modern satellites in the JPSS (Joint Polar Satellite System) family, including NOAA‑20 and JPSS‑2, transmit data digitally via advanced systems like HRD (High Rate Data), requiring more advanced ground station setups. These systems deliver far more detailed data for scientific analysis, forecasting, and climate monitoring.
Maintaining analog APT on aging platforms no longer aligns with NOAA’s long-term strategy or budget priorities.
While the sun is setting on APT, opportunities for satellite enthusiasts are expanding. The community is rapidly embracing digital downlinks like:
NOAA‑15, 18, and 19 represent a golden era of satellite access. For a generation of space and weather enthusiasts, the rhythmic sweep of an APT image across a screen was a gateway into the world of Earth observation. These satellites didn’t just broadcast images—they inspired curiosity, launched careers, and built communities.
As we say goodbye to NOAA‑18 and prepare for the eventual silence of NOAA‑15 and NOAA‑19, we celebrate not just the technology, but the passion it ignited in so many people around the globe.
| Satellite | Status | APT Output | Repair Policy |
|---|---|---|---|
| NOAA‑18 | Decommissioned (June 6, 2025) | ❌ Off | N/A |
| NOAA‑15 | End-of-life active | Still functioning | ⚠️ Still ON | ✅ No repairs if broken |
| NOAA‑19 | End-of-life active | Still functioning | ⚠️ Still ON | ✅ No repairs if broken |
As of June 2025, the era of easy, analog satellite imagery is officially drawing to a close. NOAA‑18 is gone, NOAA‑15 and NOAA‑19 are hanging on by hardware already years past their prime—and if they die, that’s it for APT from NOAA. However you may still be able to receive sporadically through the Meteor series, but that’s a subject for another post.
Still, this sunset opens a sunrise for digital downlink systems that deliver richer, higher-quality data. The tools may change—but the adventure continues.
Keep looking up — the signals may change, but the sky will always have a story to tell.