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Contact Reinhard Beer (Reinhard.Beer@jpl.nasa.gov) for details.

Tropospheric emission spectrometer for the Earth Observing System's Aura satellite

R. Beer, T. A. Glavich, and D. M. Rider

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California

Abstract.

The Tropospheric Emission Spectrometer (TES) is an imaging infrared Fourier-transform spectrometer scheduled to be launched into polar Sun-synchronous orbit aboard the Earth Observing System's Aura satellite in June 2003. The primary objective of the TES is to make global three-dimensional measurements of tropospheric ozone and of the physical-chemical factors that control its formation, destruction, and distribution. Such an ambitious goal requires a highly sophisticated cryogenic instrument operating over a wide frequency range, which, in turn, demands state-of-the-art infrared detector arrays. In addition, the measurements require an instrument that can operate in both nadir and limb-sounding modes with a precision pointing system. The way in which these mission objectives flow down to the specific science and measurement requirements and in turn are implemented in the flight hardware are described. A brief overview of the data analysis approach is provided.