EOS-AM1: L-2

Abstract

EOS-AM1 is the first component of NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS). As centerpiece to Mission to Planet Earth, EOS will provide satellite observations to determine the extent, causes, and regional consequences of global climate change. EOS-AM1 is intended to obtain information about the physical and radiative properties of clouds; air-land and air-sea exchanges of energy, carbon, and water; measurements of important trace gases in the atmosphere; and volcanology. It carries five advanced instruments: advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) provided by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry of Japan, Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System provided by NASA's Langley Research Center, Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer provided by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Moderate Resolution Imaging SpectroRadiometer provided by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, and Measurements of Pollution in the Troposphere provided by the Canadian Space Agency. The project is currently in its D Phase and is maintaining schedule for a June 1998 launch. Fabrication of Flight Model hardware is being completed and integration and subsystems testing is underway. During the next six months, all instruments will be delivered to the spacecraft contractor for integration with the spacecraft bus. System- level compatibility, performance, and environmental testing will follow. The ambitious science objectives, associated data quality and instrument/spacecraft technology considerations, and the current development status will be discussed. The EOS-AM1 project is managed by Goddard Space Flight Center.