Nasa is to use a global precipitation measurement (GPM) microwave imager developed by Ball Aerospace on its GPM mission.
The GPM mission will utilise an international constellation of satellites to study rain, snow and ice to better understand earth’s climate, weather and hydrometeorological processes.
For the mission, Ball Aerospace will manufacture, test and deliver the GMI instrument flight unit 2 to support instrument integration on the core spacecraft, and provide launch and post-launch support.
The GMI flight unit 2 will be identical to GMI flight unit 1 and will be manufactured simultaneously with GMI 1.
The instrument is a multichannel, conical-scanning, microwave radiometer to measure Earth’s atmospheric moisture with near-global coverage.
The GMI will fly on a GPM spacecraft in a low-inclination orbit as part of the GPM constellation with launch due in 2014.
It will enable GPM to enhance monitoring of hurricanes and mid-latitude storms, and improve estimates of rainfall accumulation.
