| Prime contractor | GE Astro |
| Platform | evolved from NOAA 2nd generation |
| Mass at launch | 1420 kg |
| Mass in orbit | ~1050 kg |
| Dimension | 4.18 m long x 1.88 m diameter |
| Stabilization | 3-axis |
| Design lifetime | 3 years |
| APT downlink freq. | 137.620 MHz (standby) |
| HRPT downlink freq. | 1698.0 MHz |
| Beacon | 136.770 MHz |