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INSTRUMENTS

Explore the many instruments the European Space Agency use to observe the Earth. ESA offer data from a wide range of optical, radar, atmospheric, altimetric and gravimetric instrumentation.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    ATSR

    The Along Track Scanning Radiometer (ATSR) on board ERS-1 and ERS-2 mission consisted of two instruments, an Infra-Red Radiometer and a Microwave Sounder.

  • Instrument - Positioning/Navigation

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    PRARE

    The Precise Range And Range-Rate Equipment (PRARE) was a microwave tracking system on board the ERS-1 and ERS-2 missions.

  • Instrument - Laser Ranging

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    LRR ERS

    The Laser Retro-Reflector (LRR), on board the ERS-1 and ERS-2 missions, was an optical device for accurate satellite tracking from the ground to support instrument data evaluation.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    MWR (ERS)

    The microwave radiometer (MWR) instrument on board the ERS-1 and ERS-2 missions provided measurements of the integrated atmospheric water vapour column and cloud liquid water content.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    Thematic Mapper (TM)

    The Thematic Mapper (TM) was a multispectral scanning radiometer on board Landsat-4 and Landsat-5.

  • Instrument - Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    Return-Beam Vidicon (RBV)

    The Return-Beam Vidicon (RBV) instrument was flown onboard the Landsat-1 to 3 satellites.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS)

    The Multi Spectral Scanner (MSS) instrument was carried aboard the Landsat-1 to 5 satellites.

  • Instrument - Laser Ranging

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    LRR (Envisat)

    The LRR instrument aboard Envisat was used to accurately determine the orbital height of the satellite.

  • Instrument - Radio

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    DORIS

    DORIS was used to determine the precise location of Envisat in orbit.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    Thermal Infra-Red Sensor (TIRS)

    TIRS on Landsat-8 mission is a thermal imager that supplements observations from the OLI (Operational Land Imager) instrument.

  • Instrument - Spectrometers

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    SCIAMACHY

    SCIAMACHY was an instrument on board the Envisat satellite that measured atmospheric chemistry.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    Operational Land Imager (OLI)

    The OLI, on board Landsat-8, measures in the visible, near infrared, and short wave infrared.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+)

    The Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) is the main instrument onboard Landsat-7.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    MWR (Envisat)

    The MWR instrument, on board Envisat mission, measured integrated atmospheric water vapour column and cloud liquid water.

  • Instrument - Interferometers

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    MIPAS

    MIPAS was an atmospheric instrument carried aboard the Envisat satellite.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    MERIS

    The MERIS instrument aboard Envisat was primarily dedicated to providing ocean colour measurements.

  • Instrument - Spectrometers

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    GOMOS

    GOMOS is a medium resolution spectrometer covering the wavelength range from 250 nm to 950 nm.

  • Instrument - Imaging Spectrometers/Radiometers

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    AATSR

    The AATSR instrument aboard Envisat was primarily designed to measure Sea Surface Temperature.