NESDIS has been working with the Argentine Space Agency, Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales (CONAE). There have been joint technical workshops and exchanges of information. Areas of cooperation that are being explored are the exchange of scientist and the possible placement of an Argentine instrument on a NOAA satellite.

NOAA has cooperating Arrangements and Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) with many Australian agencies. (Australian Institute of Marine Science, the Great Barrier of Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) , University of Queensland, Bureau of Meteorology of Australia, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)).
NOAA and the University of Queensland signed an MOA in 2006 to conduct a research project with AIMS and GPRMPA entitled “New Tools for Managing Ecosystem Responses to Climate Change on the Southern Great Barrier Reef.” This project is funded under a Linkage Project Grant by the Australian Research Council. NOAA is partnering with the Bureau of Meteorology on the siting of a National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) ground station in Australia.

NOAA and the Brazilian Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) have benefited for many years from a close relationship covering a broad range of topics and cooperative projects. These include meteorological satellite data access and utilization, fire monitoring and support, seasonal to inter annual climate forecasting, and socio-economic impacts of climate forecasting.

NOAA's primary interaction with the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) the RADARSAT-1 satellite program, which supplied synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data for U.S. government needs.  When the satellite was finally taken out of services in April of 2008 after 13 years of operation in space, it ended nearly 17 years of very fruitful and successful cooperation in the program between the two organizations.  NOAA is working with CSA to develop a new cooperative mechanism for the next generation of Canadian SAR satellites, the RADARSAT Constellation.   

NOAA works closely with Environment Canada (EC), particularly with Meteorological Services Canada (MSC) with in EC.  In January 2008 NOAA and EC signed a new umbrella cooperation agreement on Collaboration on Weather, Climate and other Earth Systems for the enhancement of Health, Safety and Economic Prosperity.  The agreement will allow cooperation between NOAA and EC on a wide variety of areas including the North American Drought Monitor, climate monitoring and the sharing and exchange of climatologically and meteorological data and information.  In 2003 NOAA signed the North American Ice Service agreement with MSC.  This agreement is combining the ice monitoring efforts of three different organizations, the Canadian Ice Service, the U.S. National Ice Center, and the International Ice Patrol.

  NOAA scientists work closely with their Canadian counterparts in the Canadian Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS), a division of Natural Resources Canada.  In particular, their efforts have focused on applying SAR data in the study of hurricanes. 

NOAA's space-based cooperation with the People's Republic of China falls under two protocols of the U.S. - China Science and Technology  Agreement:  the Protocol for Cooperation in Atmospheric Sciences and the Marine and Fisheries Science and Technology Protocol.  One of the six major areas under the Atmospheric Protocol is satellite meteorology.

In this area NOAA’s main partner is China’s National Meteorology Satellite Center (NMSC).  The two sides currently are focusing on visiting lecturers and training in connection with atmospheric applications and determination of data characteristics of each others’ geostationary and polar weather satellites.  NOAA has also started working with the National Remote Sensing Center of China (NRSCC) and the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) on developing potential interactions in ocean remote sensing. 

The European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) is NOAA's counterpart in Europe for environmental satellites.  It has 18 European member states (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway,Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.)  EUMETSAT operates its primary geostationary METEOSAT satellite over Europe and uses a spare satellite to cover the Indian Ocean, greatly benefitting U.S. and international users. EUMETSAT also operates the polar-orbiting satellite series know as Metop.

Because EUMETSAT and NOAA have similar mandates to conduct satellite activities in support of environmental monitoring and forecasting, a strong cooperative relationship has developed. Since the creation of EUMETSAT in 1986, NOAA and EUMETSAT have signed several significant agreements for cooperation relating polar-orbiting satellites and to geostationary satellite data and backup. In November 1998, NOAA agreed to establish an Initial Joint Polar System (IJPS) with EUMETSAT, whereby EUMETSAT would operate its polar-orbiting Metop satellite series in the morning orbit, and NOAA would continue to operate its satellites in the afternoon orbit. The IJPS became operational in 2006 when EUMETSAT launched its first Metop satellite. With the signing of the Joint Transition Activities Agreement in 2003, NOAA and EUMETSAT extended IJPS cooperation through the life of the Metop series, and NOAA and EUMETSAT have already begun discussions on extending this cooperation through the next generation of polar-orbiting satellites beyond 2020. NOAA and EUMETSAT have developed cooperation in other areas as well, a 1994 agreement for mutual geostationary backup and contributions to the Jason-2 altimetry mission

NOAA partners with the  European Space Agency (ESA) mainly through the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters. We hope to explore increased cooperation, including data exchange, in the future. ESA participates in CEOS activities.

European Comission
Contact: Kay Weston

NOAA participates in the annual U.S. European Union Space Dialogue on Civil Space Cooperation.  These meetings focus on space policy, Earth observation, security, navigation and space exploration issues.  NOAA cooperates with the European Commission Directorate on Enterprise and Industry and the Directorate on Research. 

Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES)
Meteo-France
Argos Operations Committee
Contact: Daniel Muller

NOAA/NESDIS participates in the Argos Operations Committee, which oversees the Argos data collection system. The system consisting of French instruments flown on U.S. satellites, is used to collect and distribute environmental data to a wide variety of governmental, non-governmental and private entities.  Cooperation on Argos was established with France over 20 years ago.   In addition to NOAA and Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), EUMETSAT will became a member of the Ops Comm with the launch of Metop-1, which carried the Argos instrument. Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) are also associated with the system.

CNES is one of the four cooperating agencies, along with the Russian Morsviazsputnik , the Canadian National Search and Rescue Secretariat and NOAA, that represent the parties to the International

Cospas-Sarsat program agreement.  CNES and NOAA are both parties in the four-party Ocean Surface Topography Mission ( Jason-2).  CNES and NOAA also have active cooperation through the International Charter on Space and Major Disasters & Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).
NOAA also cooperates with Meteo-France, particularly the Satellite Meteorology Center in Lannion

German Aerospace Center (DLR) is Germany's national research centre for aeronautics and space. As Germany's Space Agency, the German federal government has given DLR responsibility for the forward planning and implementation of the German space program as well as international representation of Germany's interests. DLR is an active participant in the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) and other international groups.

In January 2008, NOAA, and the Indian Space Research Organization, signed a new Agreement for Cooperation in Earth Observation and Earth Sciences. The Agreement develops an organizational basis for bilateral cooperation, as well as documents arrangements and understandings that enable the coordination of activities and programs in Earth observations, operations, and research. This Agreement replaces the former Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for Cooperation in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, originally concluded among NOAA, NASA, the Indian Department of Space (DOS) , and the Indian Department of Science and Technology (DST) , which expired in January 2008. The new Agreement reaffirms both Parties' commitment to cooperation in satellite and in-situ Earth observation missions, data sharing, and ground system capabilities for both research and applications.

In April 2008, NOAA also signed an MOU with India's Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) to facilitate scientific cooperation in “Earth Observations and Earth Sciences.” Pursuant to these Agreements, ISRO, MoES, and NOAA are collaborating on subsidiary Implementing Arrangements that will ensure ongoing cooperation in Earth observation.

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) stated mission is to sustain and develop the field of aerospace to further enrich Japanese society in the future.  Long-term goals include building a secure and prosperous society through the utilization of aerospace technology, with a focus on natural disaster management and the establishment of a system for global environmental issues.  NESDIS has cooperated closely with JAXA in a number of areas.  Most recently we are exploring partnering with JAXA’s Global Change Observation Mission (GCOM) on an advanced scatterometer.  We have also conducted periodic meetings of the NOAA/JAXA Earth Observing Joint Working Group, established in 1999.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) mandate includes the prevention and mitigation of natural disasters, transportation safety, the development and prosperity of industry, and the improvement of public welfare.  To meet these goals, JMA focuses its efforts on monitoring the Earth’s environment and forecasting natural phenomena in the atmosphere, oceans and earth, as well as on conducting research and technical development in relevant fields.  JMA is also active in international cooperation regarding both meteorology and seismology to meet Japan’s international obligations and to promote partnership with National Meteorological and Hydrological Services as well as the various international agencies concerned.  NESDIS has long-standing relations with JMA through its receipt and use of geostationary satellite data.  Past activities include using NOAA’s GOES-9 satellite as a back-up to JMA’s Geostationary Meteorological Satellite-5.  NESDIS also partners with JMA via the Asia Pacific Satellite Data Exchange and Utilization (APSDEU) working group.

Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA)
Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI)

Contact: Margarida Yuan

Korea Meteorological Administration KMA is a governmental organization of the Republic of Korea under the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). Its mission is defined to protect citizens' lives and properties from natural disasters and improve the commonwealth of the public in ways such as support for economic activities.  KMA undertakes the observation and analysis of meteorological phenomena on the ground, in the ocean, and in the atmosphere, while providing weather forecasts and warnings, and presents climate statistics and industrial-meteorological data.  KMA also exchanges meteorological data and information with domestic and foreign organizations, conducts research and technology development activities, and promotes international cooperation.  In 2004, NESDIS signed a Technical Assistance Agreement with KMA on promoting geostationary satellite cooperation. 

The Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) , since its establishment in 1989, has focused on research and development in Korea’s aerospace science. KARI’s R&D initiatives can be classified into the development of state-of-the-art aircraft, satellites, and space launch vehicles.  The aircraft development project includes the Smart Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) program and the Korean helicopter program.  KARI is also involved in the development of Korea Multi Purpose Satellite (KOMPSAT) 3, KOMPSAT 5 equipped with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS).  KARI has steadily endeavored to enhance basic technology to come up with an advanced space launch vehicle, epitomized by the successful test launch in 2002 of the liquid-fueled sounding satellite KSR-III.  Based on this capability, KARI is focusing to build KSLV-II, a rocket capable of putting a 100 kg-class small satellite into low-earth orbit, with a view to complete a launch in 2008.  In addition, the completion of a Space Center, with the launch site, is scheduled for 2008, ushering Korea into the club of space powers.  

Norwegian Space Centre (NSC) is a government agency under Norway’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. NSC promotes Norway’s national space activities and supports Norwegian interests in the European Space Agency (ESA).  In 2001, the U.S. signed an agreement with the Kingdom of Norway for Cooperation in the Civil Uses of Outer Space which designated NOAA and NSC as implementing agencies on behalf of their respective governments.  In 2002, NOAA and NSC signed the Implementing Agreement between NOAA and NSC on Cooperation in Satellite Tracking and Environmental Data Acquisition and Utilization, which provides for the utilization of NSC-controlled Svalsat Station in support of Earth observation and environmental satellite programs of interest to NOAA. Given its extreme northern location, Svalsat station is ideal for data acquisition and Telemetry, Tracking and Command services for polar-orbiting satellites.  Among other missions, SvalSat will thus serve as a key component of the NOAA National Polar-orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) and NPOESS Preparatory Project (NPP) ground network."

The Federal Service of Russia for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (Roshydromet) operates Russia’s environmental satellites – both geostationary and polar-orbiting.  Roshydromet is the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the World Meteorological Organization of the UN and a member of its Executive Council.  Roshydromet is also a member of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS).  Roshydromet is responsible fore data acquisition, data collection, information processing, and the dissemination of products related to hydrological and meteorological information.

The Scientific and Research Center on Space Hydrometeorology (SRC Planeta) is closely with Roshydromet by providing one of its three satellite data acquisition and processing centers.  Current activities within Roshydromet and SRC Planeta are concentrated on providing all operational functions and services (satellite data acquisition, processing, generation and dissemination of products), as well as preparing for upcoming satellite missions.

Morsviazsputnik is one of four cooperating agencies, along with the Canadian National Search and Rescue Secretariat, the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, and NOAA, that represent the parties to the International Cospas-Sarsat program agreement.

The NOAA Satellite and Information Service has a history of cooperation with multiple organizations within the U.K. The Met Office hosts in Exeter a major data exchange communications link between NOAA and Europe, which serves as the European gateway for receipt of NOAA satellite data. NOAA and the British National Space Centre (BNSC) both cooperate with each other through their shared goals to enhance environmental sciences as well as through membership in CEOS. We have also had past cooperation with Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) , Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. of the University of Surrey, the Natural Environment Research Council, and the University of Bristol.