SSM/I

Special Sensor Microwave - Imager

Satellites

DMSP F 8, 10, 11, 13, 14 and 15

Status

Operational – Utilised in the period: 1987 to ~ 2008

Mission

Multi-purpose MW imager

Instrument type

4-frequency, 7-channel MW radiometer

Scanning technique

Conical: 53.1° zenith angle, swath 1400 km – Scan rate: 31.9 scan/min = 12.5 km/scan

Coverage/cycle

Global coverage once/day

Resolution (constant)

Changing with frequency, consistent with an antenna diameter of 61 x 66 cm

Resources

Mass: 48.5 kg - Power: 45 W - Data rate: … kbps

Central frequency (GHz)

Bandwidth (MHz)

Polarisations

Accuracy (NEΔT)

IFOV

Pixel

19.35

400

V, H

0.43 K

45 x 68 km

25.0 x 12.5 km

22.235

400

V

0.73 K

40 x 60 km

25.0 x 12.5 km

37.0

1500

V, H

0.38 K

24 x 36 km

25.0 x 12.5 km

85.5

3000

V, H

0.71 K

11 x 16 km

12.5 x 12.5 km