56.84 (+0.03) 
Unique sensor capabilities help to reveal the impact of atmospheric aerosols on climate.
Raytheon’s Aerosol Polarimetry Sensor (APS) was designed to collect global aerosol data for climate scientists during NASA’s 3-year Glory mission. It is the most advanced polarimeter ever to fly in space — and the only instrument able to distinguish various species of natural aerosols from the man-made black carbon and sulfate aerosols in Earth’s atmosphere.
On orbit, APS will make highly accurate measurements of these short-lived aerosols from multiple viewing angles in multiple spectral bands. The innovative design of the sensor’s optical detector module enables it to collect both spectral and polarimetric data in the same scanning pass. The module integrates 161 optical elements including six precision-aligned telescopes.
Raytheon’s participation in the 2009 NASA Glory climate mission will help scientists determine the origins of atmospheric aerosols, establish their persistence and distribution, and evaluate their effects on climate. The wealth of new data gathered will enable policy makers to formulate responses to climate change based on a more complete understanding of the global processes that contribute to it.
