article_snippet: One of the series of satellites is illustrated here.
article_snippet: Six other DMSP satellites are in orbit, while a seventh is scheduled to launch in 2016.
article_snippet: The DMSP programme is used to monitor meteorological, oceanographic and solar-terrestrial physics for the US Department of Defense.
article_snippet: The DMSP programme is managed by Air Force Space Command, with on-orbit operarions provided by Noaa.
article_snippet: Shown is a rendering of lights on Earth using DMSP observations .