The SSMIS instruments are part of three weather satellites that are in low-Earth orbit and are maintained by NOAA in cooperation with the Department of Defense. They provide critical weather information that can't yet be replaced by other satellites and weather instruments, according to NOAA.

After announcing it would lose access to key weather satellite data, NOAA will retain access, the agency said in a statement.

The Navy will continue sharing data with NOAA from satellites that the service had planned to start phasing out on July 31.