The $1.5 billion National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System Preparatory Project will be launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) by the end of the month.

The satellite is envisioned to assist weather analysts to predict typhoons and provide experts with an enhanced outlook of climate change, according to a report from Agence France-Presse.

Several months ago, the launching of a similar climate research satellite called Glory failed because of mechanical problems in the spacecraft.

This satellite was supposed to gather information about properties of tiny particles in the earth's atmosphere to include black carbon and acquire data on solar intensity. It was supposed to aid scientists in studying the long-term effects of the sun on the earth's climate.

The remains of the rocket are said to be somewhere in the South Pacific by the location remains uncertain.

The cost of the mission was reported by the Associated Press to be at $424 million.

In 2006, NASA headquarters also announced the launching of a "globe-spanning constellation of six weather and climate research satellites based on a novel application of NASA-developed technology"

The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere and Climate network, known as Cosmic in the United States and Formosat-3 in Taiwan, was invented reportedly to improve weather forecasts, monitor climate change and enhance space weather research.

The SUV-sized satellite will contain five instruments to analyze temperature and water in the atmosphere.

It will study how clouds and aerosols affect temperature as well as the reaction of plants on land and in the ocean to environmental changes.

The satellite is one of 14 Earth observation missions currently being managed by NASA. Project managers said they hope it will operate for about five years according to the AFP.

In 2010, The European Space Agency launched CryoSat-2, the third so-called "Earth Explorer" satellite put into orbit by the agency in just over a year.