As of August 12th, 2025, NOAA is officially retiring some of its most iconic Polar Operational Environmental Satellites — NOAA-18 was decommissioned earlier this summer on June 6th, and today NOAA-15 joins it in retirement. NOAA-19 is expected to follow very soon. These satellites have been vital in delivering real-time weather imagery for decades, not only to meteorologists and emergency responders but also to satellite enthusiasts around the world. Their retirement marks a major turning point in weather satellite technology.
NOAA-18’s retirement earlier this summer was triggered by a failure of its S-Band transmitter that NOAA could not recover. Today, NOAA-15 is being retired after many years of dedicated service, having exceeded its expected operational life. NOAA-19, the last of this generation, is on its final countdown and expected to be decommissioned soon as well. These satellites are aging, with their onboard instruments and systems showing signs of wear and reduced reliability.
While NOAA continues to operate newer satellites like NOAA-20 and the JPSS series, which provide enhanced data and imaging capabilities, the classic analog Advanced Picture Transmission (APT) signals broadcast by these older satellites are now being phased out. NOAA advises that remaining signals should be treated as “data of opportunity” rather than primary sources for critical applications.
For many years, NOAA’s APT signals — broadcast at around 137 MHz — have been a treasure for hobbyists, educators, and citizen scientists. With modest equipment like a software-defined radio (SDR) and a simple antenna, people have been able to receive real-time weather images of their local areas, fostering a deeper understanding of meteorology and satellite communications.
These satellites also carry Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) payloads that detect emergency distress beacons worldwide, playing a critical role in saving lives. Although these services continue, their dependability will increasingly rely on newer satellites as these aging ones go offline.
The retirement of NOAA-15, NOAA-18, and soon NOAA-19 clears the way for modern satellites like NOAA-20 and the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) series. These newer platforms offer superior sensors, better resolution, and more reliable data streams, improving weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and environmental observations — but they do not broadcast the old-style analog APT signals many hobbyists grew up receiving.
Although the classic APT signals are disappearing, the satellite reception hobby is far from over. Here’s how you can stay engaged:
The retirement of NOAA’s legacy POES satellites is not just the end of certain signals — it’s the close of a chapter where weather satellite data was freely and easily accessible to many around the world with simple equipment. This transition challenges us to embrace new technologies and opportunities, fueling the future of satellite observation and weather monitoring for professionals and hobbyists alike.
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