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Spaceborne Architecture

AOS mission instrumentation and launch details

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Spacecraft

AOS-Sky | AOS-Storm (pre-decisional) | HAWCsat | PMM

AOS Constellation
International contributions are marked with flags. Other elements will be provided by NASA/US.

NASA-led Spacecraft

  • AOS-Sky - Space Segment Polar
    • 97° inclination (i.e., polar) orbit
    • Sun synchronous
    • 1:30 AM/PM equator crossing
  • AOS-Storm – Space Segment GPM
    • 55° inclined orbit, similar to GPM (final inclination may be different)

AOS-Sky

InstrumentDescription
Single-frequency Doppler RadarSingle-frequency Doppler radar measures clouds and light precipitation, as well as the associated liquid or ice particle motions along the radar line of sight.
Microwave RadiometerIncludes a range of channels to measure ice water path, precipitation, atmospheric temperature and humidity.
89-113, 183, 325, 640-700 GHz, 10 km resolution, 750 km swath
Backscatter LidarMeasures attenuated aerosol and cloud backscatter. Backscatter capability at 1064 nm and 532 nm, 30 m vertical resolution, 350 m footprint
Multi-angle PolarimeterMeasures polarized radiation at multiple angles to infer cloud and aerosol properties.
9 bands in the 380 to 1570 nm wavelength range, 0.5 km resolution, 300 km swath, multi-angle
FIR Imaging RadiometerMeasures ice particle size, cloud top height, cloud longwave emission, water vapor profiles. 8 bands in the 4 - 73 µm wavelength range with 1 km resolution, 100 km swath

AOS-Storm (pre-decisional)

InstrumentDescription
Microwave RadiometerIncludes a range of channels to measure ice water path, precipitation, atmospheric humidity.
89, 183, 325 GHz, 3-10 km resolution, 700 km swath
Backscatter LidarMeasures attenuated aerosol and cloud backscatter.

Backscatter capability at 1064 nm and 532 nm, 60 m vertical resolution, 350 m footprint

High altitude Aerosol Water vapor Clouds satellite (HAWCsat)

InstrumentDescription
Aerosol Limb ImagerMeasures scattered sunlight from the atmospheric limb (edge of the atmosphere) to resolve information on stratospheric aerosol distribution and particle size.
10 bands in the 610 - 1560 nm wavelength range with 0.25 km vertical resolution, 200 km swath
Water Vapor Limb ImagerWater Vapor Limb Imager - measures scattered sunlight from the atmospheric limb (edge of the atmosphere) and measures the concentration of water vapor in the lower stratosphere and upper troposphere.
1362.00 – 1368.32 nm wavelength range with 0.13 km vertical resolution, 63 km swath

Precipitation Measuring Mission (PMM)

InstrumentDescription
Ku Wide-Swath Radar with DopplerKu band (13.6 GHz) radar measures precipitation over a 255-km wide swath and the associated liquid or ice particle Doppler motions along the radar line of sight at nadir.
Ku-band Doppler, 500 m vertical resolution, 5 km horizontal resolution
Microwave RadiometerIncludes a range of channels to measure ice water path, precipitation, atmospheric humidity.
89, 183, 325 GHz, 3-10 km resolution, 700 km swath

Launch

AOS-Storm will launch mid-2029, followed by AOS-Sky in December 2031. PMM will launch in 2029 and HAWCsat will launch in 2031.

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