The TRMM satellite passed almost directly above powerful typhoon MA-ON on 14 July 2011 at 0525 UTC. This TRMM orbit revealed that MA-ON was extremely well organized with several bands of intense thunderstorms around a well defined eye. This rainfall analysis, using data from TRMM's Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR), shows that the heaviest rainfall of over 50 mm/hr (~ 2 inches) was located in the southwestern quadrant of MA-ON's eye wall. MA-ON is predicted to become an even more dangerous super typhoon with wind speeds of 135 kts (155 mph) on 17 July 2011 while approaching

Tropical storm MA-ON (08W), that developed east of the Marianas in the northern Pacific Ocean yesterday, has continued to become more powerful. MA-ON had wind speeds of about 35 kts (~40 mph) when the TRMM satellite saw the storm on 12 July 2011 at 0640 UTC and is predicted to gradually strengthen over the next five days. MA-ON is then expected to be a powerful typhoon with wind speeds of 95 kts (~109 mph) and be located in the open waters of the Pacific Ocean south of Japan. TRMM Microwave Imager (TMI) and Precipitation Radar (PR) data were used in the rainfall analysis being drawn on the

The High Gain Antenna System (HGAS) completed vibration test and moved to the acoustic chamber for the acoustic test at Goddard Space Flight Center. The HGAS helps to provide directional pointing for the Radio Frequency communications antenna, used with NASA’s Tracking and Data Relay Satellite System.

The GPM Core Observatory structure successfully completed proof testing in the centrifuge facility at Goddard Space Flight Center. The satellite was tested at several different angles to simulate the increased feeling of gravity’s pull on the satellite during launch. Goddard's centrifuge can accelerate 2.5 tons to speeds so high that the payload experiences forces 30 times greater than the pull of Earth's gravity. The GPM Core Observatory undergoing centrifuge testing at Goddard Space Flight Center.