49.62 (-0.84) Last Updated: 09/02/2011*
Raytheon’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) is the keystone instrument on the Earth Observing System Terra and Aqua satellites. The MODIS Rapid Response System team provides daily satellite images of weather, ice and land changes to federal agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.
In the image below, Hurricane Irene is seen making landfall along the United States’ eastern seaboard Aug. 27.
 |
|
Click image for larger view.
Credit: NASA |
Raytheon is playing an instrumental role in the evolution of the nation’s weather forecasting system as well. Raytheon’s Visible Infrared Imager Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) will provide advanced monitoring imagery as part of the next generation U.S. weather satellite system.
VIIRS combines the capabilities of several operating systems, including MODIS, into one technologically advanced, affordable sensor. The first VIIRS instrument is scheduled to launch aboard NASA’s NPOESS Preparatory Project spacecraft Oct. 25, 2011. As part of NOAA’s Joint Polar Satellite System and the U.S. Air Force’s Defense Weather Satellite System, a planned series of VIIRS sensors will improve upon the record of environmental data that meteorologists use to predict weather.
SHARE CONTENT
* The content on this page is classified as historical content. See this important information regarding such content.
