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About |Instruments | CrIMSS | CrIS | ATMS | OMPS | MIS | VIIRS | CERES | ADCS - SARSAT | SEM-N

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Instrument Summary

The National Polar-orbiting Operational Environment Satellite System (NPOESS) will collect and disseminate data about the Earth's oceans, atmosphere, land, climate, and space environment. These environmental measurements are made available by a variety of instruments (sensors) both new and existing. The following lists the various sensors and responsible agency by category.

New sensors under development

• CrIMSS: CrIS and ATMS (CrIMSS) are the next generation operational sensor suite selected to fly on the National Polarorbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) spacecraft. The Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) combined with the Advanced Technology Microwave Sounder (ATMS) globally produces atmospheric temperature, moisture and pressure profiles from space.
• MIS: The NPOESS Integrated Program Office (IPO) has created a Microwave Imager/Sounder (MIS) acquisition team to define a less complex sensor and determine the most appropriate acquisition strategy to procure the MIS. The MIS will fly on NPOESS satellites C2 through C4.
• OMPS: Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite
  Collects data to permit the calculation of the vertical and horizontal distribution of ozone in the Earth's atmosphere.
• VIIRS: Visible/Infrared Imager/Radiometer Suite
  Collects visible and infrared radiometric data of the Earth's atmosphere, ocean, and land surfaces. Data types include atmospheric, clouds, Earth radiation budget, land/water and sea surface temperature, ocean color, and low light imagery.

Existing Systems/Sensors

• CERES: Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System. Part of NASA's EOS, CERES products include both solar-reflected and Earth-emitted radiation from the top of the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. Cloud properties are determined using simultaneous measurements by other EOS instruments such as the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).
• DCS Data Collection System : The NPOESS DCS will be similar to the Argos DCS which resides on NOAA's current POES and measures environmental factors such as atmospheric temperature and pressure, and the velocity and direction of the ocean and wind currents.
• SARSAT:
  The Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking system (SARSAT) uses NOAA satellites in low-Earth and geostationary orbits to detect and locate aviators, mariners, and land-based users in distress. The satellites relay distress signals from emergency beacons to a network of ground stations and ultimately to the U.S. Mission Control Center (USMCC) in Suitland, Maryland. The USMCC processes the data and alerts the appropriate search and rescue authorities. Click here for more information.
• SEM-N: Space Environment Monitor NPOESS.