WASHINGTON (States News Service) -- The U.S. military plans to launch a new generation of weather satellite later this month, with updated computers, power supplies, and sensors. And it won't be just admirals and generals who get to see the satellite's cloud cover images, as the pictures will be available to the public.

The Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) Block 5 D-3 spacecraft packs a set of solid-state recorders, a 64 Kb computer and software upgrades, two additional solar panels, and an additional battery for longer mission life.

From their near-polar orbit, the DMSP satellite will provide short- and long-term forecasts to the military.

But operation of the new 5 D-3, built by Lockheed Martin, will be turned over to the Commerce Department's satellite meteorology agency -- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Although paid for by the government, NOAA will archive some of the information and make it available to other agencies, as well as the public through its National Geophysical Data Center.

For instance, DMSP data was used to create a series of global maps showing forest fires, city lights, and population patterns that was published by the National Geographic Society, the Defense Dept. said. Nighttime images can also be used to analyze the spread of forest fires and lightning strikes.

"In emergency situations, when there's a hurricane or something, I'm sure they incorporate information from the DMSP, but it's principally a military satellite," said Lockheed spokesman Buddy Nelson.