Within NOAA's two-POES meteorological satellite configuration, NOAA-15 is the first and presently only NOAA satellite to provide enhanced global imaging and sounding capabilities in the microwave. NOAA-15's AMSU represents a significant improvement over the MSU in both field-of-view (FOV) resolution and the number of spectral channels. The role of the MSU as primarily a temperature sounder has expanded with the AMSU to include moisture sounding, precipitation estimation, and detection of surface properties. Launch of NOAA-L (NOAA-16) in the year 2000 would double the local AMSU coverage to four times daily.

POES are often separately referred to as either the AM or the PM satellite. The AM satellite (currently NOAA-15) is placed into orbit to provide coverage at approximately 7:30 AM and 7:30 PM local time, while the PM satellite (currently NOAA-14) is placed into orbit to provide coverage at approximately 13:30 PM and 01:30 AM. DMSP satellites are deployed in a similar configuration. Three DMSP satellites, two primary and one secondary, currently provide microwave observations using the SSM/I instrument. The table on the right lists the times of local coverage to be expected with both NOAA and DMSP satellites.

The current configuration of civilian and military meteorological POES allows for local microwave coverage approximately every four hours at latitudes equatorward of 50 degrees. Poleward of 50 degrees, coverage becomes more frequent.