The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), is a 36-band spectroradiometer measuring visible and infrared radiation and obtaining data that are being used to derive products ranging from vegetation, land surface cover, and ocean chlorophyll fluorescence to cloud and aerosol properties, fire occurrence, snow cover on the land, and sea ice cover on the oceans. The first MODIS instrument was launched on board the Terra satellite in December 1999, and the second was launched on Aqua in May 2002.
- Selected for flight on Terra (launched Dec. 1999) and Aqua.
- Medium-resolution, multi-spectral, cross-track scanning radiometer.
- Measures physical properties of the atmosphere, and biological and physical properties of the oceans and land.
- 36 spectral bands—21 within 0.4-3.0 µm; 15 within 3-14.5 µm.
- Continuous global coverage every 1 to 2 days.
- Signal-to-noise ratios from 900 to 1300 for 1 km ocean color bands at 70° solar zenith angle.
- NEDT's typically < 0.05 K at 300K.
- Absolute irradiance accuracy of 5% for <3 µm and 1% for >3 µm.
- Daylight reflection and day/night emission spectral imaging.
| Heritage |
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Advanded Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), High Resolution Infrared Radiation Sounder (HIRS), Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM), and Nimbus-7 Coastal Zone Color Scanner (CZCS) |
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| Responsible Center |
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NASA Goddard Space Flight Center |
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| Polarization Sensitivity |
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2% from 0.43 µm to 2.2 µm and ±45° scan |
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| Swath |
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2300 km at 110° (±55°) from 705 km altitude |
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| Mass |
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229 kg |
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| Duty Cycle |
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100% |
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| Power |
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162.5 W (average), 225 W (peak) |
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| Data Rate |
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6.2 Mbps (average), 10.5 Mbps (day), 3.2 Mbps (night) |
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| Thermal Control By |
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Radiator |
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| Thermal Operating Range |
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268°K ±5°K |
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| Instrument Instantaneous FOV |
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250 m (2 bands), 500 m (5 bands), 1000 m (29 bands) |
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| Geolocation (100m, 2σ) |
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| Control |
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3600 arcsec |
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| Knowledge |
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141 arcsec |
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| Stability |
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28 arcsec/sec |
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| Jitter |
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1031 arcsec/sec (yaw and roll), 47 arcsec/sec (pitch) |
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| Physical size |
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1.044 x 1.184 x 1.638 m |
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 "MODIS Scans the Globe"
The Aqua MODIS is the second MODIS, the first having been launched in 1999 on board the Terra satellite. This artist's concept animation shows the MODIS instrument measuring clouds, land surface cover, snow cover on the land, and sea ice cover on the oceans. |
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