Wait…so if I’m reading this correctly, this will make sea ice data less precise and will make Space Weather forecasts less accurate? Am I missing anything? Gosh, my heart and stomach have sunk so many times this year it’s now out of my body.

Less precise is putting it lightly; they are directly cutting off multiple data feeds that feed directly into NOAA reports

Multiple feeds that came from DoD data?

Yup, that’s how the initial announcement reads

Correct me if I’m wrong but SSMIS is the only satellite that is a low earth orbiting satellite that monitors space weather and microwave data of the planet in the world minus China? Gosh we really put all our eggs into one basket.

There are some polar orbiting microwave instruments on EUMETSAT platforms. Nevertheless, it is a disaster.

Do they also monitor the cryosphere and heliosphere the same way the DoD did?

Honestly, I'm pretty sure they do the cryosphere, but for the heliosphere I would need to make some surveys or consult colleagues. But not in the night train.

There is a good alternative, Japan's AMSR2, however the legacy cost of converting all the models that depended on SSMIS will be a pain in the ass.