Terra (satellite)

Terra, also known as EOS -1 or EOS- AM1, A started on 18 December 1999 Earth observation satellite of the U.S. air and space agency NASA for the exploration and Earth observation. The planned life of the satellite was originally 6 years.

Terra Aqua and Aura is beside one of the three main missions of the Earth Observing System (EOS ), an extensive number of missions, long-term research program of NASA. The satellite cost 1.3 billion U.S. dollars.

Path data

The satellite moves in a polar, sun-synchronous orbit (SSO).

A characteristic of this orbit is that the satellite passes each day at the same time a point on the earth. Therefore, such earth orbit are frequently used for meteorological satellites and Earth observation satellites.

Instruments

On board the satellite on five instruments:

  • ASTER (Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer) takes high resolution images in 14 channels from visible light up in the thermal infrared radiation. The resolution is about 15 to 90 meters per pixel. From this altitude, surface temperature, reflectance and emissivity of the observed land part can be derived. The instrument was built in Japan.
  • CERES ( Clouds and the Earth 's Radiant Energy System ) determines the total heat flow from or to the ground and provides information about the nature of the clouds. On board are two of Terra CERES instruments, one of them observed straight toward Earth, while the other is mounted.
  • MISR (Multi -angle Imaging Spectro - radiometer ) consists of nine cameras, each of 4 colors ( blue, green, red, near infrared) has; , the cameras monitor the earth at different angles. The instrument analyzes the scattering of sunlight, clouds, aerosols and the vegetation.
  • MODIS ( Moderate -resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ) has a relatively low resolution and works with 36 channels. It is used to detect large-scale changes in the biosphere.
  • MOPITT ( Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere ) measures the concentration of methane and carbon monoxide in the troposphere by gas correlation spectroscopy.

Terra began on 24 February 2000 with the recording of data.

International Designator Orbital inclination Aura (satellite) Volcano Timeline of artificial satellites and space probes New Millennium Program ADEOS-II ICESat Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment CloudSat CALIPSO Glory (satellite)
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