| Instrument | Agency | Missions | Status | Type | Measurements &
applications | Technical characteristics |
ASTER
Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer | METI (NASA) | Current: Terra
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | High resolution optical imagers | Surface and cloud imaging with high spatial resolution, stereoscopic observation of local topography, cloud heights, volcanic plumes, and generation of local surface digital elevation maps. Surface temperature and emissivity. ASTER SWIR detectors are no longer functioning due to anomalously high SWIR detector temperatures. ASTER SWIR data acquired since April 2008 are not useable, and show saturation of values and severe striping. All attempts to bring the SWIR bands back to life have failed, and no further action is envisioned. |
| Waveband: | VIS and NIR: 3 bands in 0.52 - 0.86 µm, SWIR: 6 bands in 1.6 - 2.43 µm, TIR: 5 bands in 8.125 - 11.65 µm
VIS, NIR, SWIR, TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | VNIR: 15 m, stereo: 15 m horizontally and 25 m vertical, SWIR: 30 m, TIR: 90 m
Best resolution: 15 m |
| Swath width: | 60 km |
| Accuracy: | VNIR and SWIR: 4% (absolute), TIR: 4 K, Geolocation: 7 m |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | HDF-EOS or GeoTiff |
|
HIRAS-1
Hyperspectral Infrared Atmospheric Sounder-1 | NSMC-CMA (CNSA) | Current: FY-3D
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) | Atmospheric sounding for weather forecasting. |
| Waveband: |
MWIR, TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | 1.1 degree (16 km at nadir) IFOV
Best resolution: 16000 m |
| Swath width: | 2400km |
| Accuracy: | |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | L-1 data: HDF 5.0 |
|
IRS
Thermal and Multispectral Scanner | CAST (INPE) | Current: CBERS-4
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) | Earth resources, environmental monitoring, land use. |
| Waveband: | 0.5 - 0.9 µm; 1.55 - 1.75 µm, 2.08 - 2.35 µm; 10.4 - 12.5 µm
VIS, NIR, SWIR, TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | PAN, SWIR: 40 m, TIR: 80 m
Best resolution: 40 m |
| Swath width: | 120 km |
| Accuracy: | |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | |
|
MODIS
MODerate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer | NASA | Current: Terra, Aqua
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) and ocean colour instruments | Data on biological and physical processes on the surface of the Earth and in the lower atmosphere, and on global dynamics. Surface temperatures of land and ocean, chlorophyll fluorescence, land cover measurements, cloud cover (day and night). |
| Waveband: | VIS - TIR: 36 bands in range 0.4 - 14.4 µm
VIS, NIR, SWIR, MWIR, TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | Cloud cover: 250 m (day) and 1000 m (night), Surface temperature: 1000 m
Best resolution: 250 m |
| Swath width: | 2330 km |
| Accuracy: | Long wave radiance: 100 nW/m2, Short wave radiance: 5%, Surface temperature of land: <1 K, Surface temperature of ocean: <0.2 K, Snow and ice cover: 10% |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | HDF-EOS |
|
PHyTIR
Prototype HyspIRI Thermal Infrared Radiometer (PHyTIR) | NASA (USGS) | Current: ECOSTRESS-on-ISS
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) | This project will use a high-resolution thermal infrared radiometer to measure plant evapotranspiration, the loss of water from growing leaves and evaporation from the soil. |
| Waveband: | TIR: 8-12.5 µm
TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | 60 m |
| Swath width: | 360km |
| Accuracy: | |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | HDF5 |
|
SGLI
Second-generation Global Imager | JAXA | Current: GCOM-C
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) and ocean colour instruments | Medium resolution multi-spectral imaging of land, ocean and atmosphere. SGLI-VNR is an optical sensor capable of multi-channel nadir observation at wavelengths from near-UV to NIR and forward or backward polarization observation at red and near infrared wavelengths (Push-broom scanning). SGLI-IRS is an optical sensor capable of multi-channel nadir observation at wavelengths from SWIR to TIR wavelengths (Cross-track scanning). |
| Waveband: | VIS - NIR: 0.38 - 0.865 µm; SW: 1.05 - 2.21 µm; TIR: 10.8 - 12.0 µm
UV, VIS, NIR, SWIR, TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | SGLI-VNR: 250 m, 1000 m; SGLI-IRS: 250 m, 500 m, 1000 m
Best resolution: 250 m |
| Swath width: | SGLI-VNR: 1150 km; SGLI-IRS: 1400km |
| Accuracy: | |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | HDF5 |
|
SLSTR
Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer | ESA (EUMETSAT) (COM) | Current: Sentinel-3 A, Sentinel-3 B
Future: Sentinel-3 C, Sentinel-3 D
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) | Marine and land services. |
| Waveband: | 9 bands in VNIR/SWIR/TIR
VIS, NIR, SWIR, TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | 500 m (VNIR/SWIR), 1 km (TIR)
Best resolution: 500 m |
| Swath width: | 1675 km (near-nadir view), 750km (backward view) |
| Accuracy: | 0.2 K abs., 80 mK rel. |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | |
|
TIRS
Thermal Infrared Sensor | USGS (NASA) | Current: Landsat 8
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) | Measures longwave thermal infrared surface emittance, land cover state, and change. Used as multipurpose imagery for land applications. |
| Waveband: | TIR 10.5 µm and 12 µm
TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | 100 m
Best resolution: 100 m |
| Swath width: | 185 km |
| Accuracy: | Absolute geodetic accuracy of 44 m; geometric accuracy of 32 m or better |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | COG, GeoTIFF |
|
TIRS-2
Thermal Infrared Sensor 2 | USGS (NASA) | Current: Landsat 9
Future: -
Complete: - | Operational | Imaging multi-spectral radiometers (vis/IR) | Measures longwave thermal infrared surface emittance, land cover state, and change. Used as multipurpose imagery for land applications. TIRS-2 will adhere to the Landsat 8 TIRS instrument performance specifications but will be built to NASA Class-B instrument standards (including a 5-year design life). |
| Waveband: | TIR 10.5 µm and 12 µm
TIR |
| Spatial resolution: | 100 m
Best resolution: 100 m |
| Swath width: | 185 km |
| Accuracy: | Absolute geodetic accuracy of 44 m; geometric accuracy of 32 m or better |
| Data Access: | Open Access |
| Data Format: | COG, GeoTIFF |
|