Ozone monitoring instrument
Overview of OMI/Aura by NASA | |
| Manufacturer | Dutch Space |
|---|---|
| Designer | Netherlands Agency for Aerospace Programmes, Finnish Meteorological Institute and the National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) |
| Country of origin | Netherlands |
| Operator | NASA |
| Applications | Atmospheric composition, air pollution, ozone layer monitoring |
| Specifications | |
| Constellation | A-Train |
| Launch mass | 5 kg (OMI) |
| Dimensions | 50x40x35 cm3 (OMI) |
| Power | 66 watts ((OMI) |
| Regime | Sun-Synchronous (Aura Satellite) |
| Design life | 20 years |
The ozone monitoring instrument (OMI) is a nadir-viewing visual and ultraviolet spectrometer aboard the NASA Aura spacecraft, which is part of the satellite constellation A-Train. In this group of satellites Aura flies in formation about 15 minutes behind Aqua satellite, both of which orbit the Earth in a polar Sun-synchronous pattern, and which provides nearly global coverage in one day. Aura satellite was launched on July 15, 2004, and OMI has collected data since August 9, 2004.
From a technical point of view, OMI instrument use hyperspectral imaging to observe solar-backscatter radiation to the space with an spectral range that covers the visible and ultraviolet. Its spectral capabilities were designed to achieve specific requirements of total ozone amounts retrievals in terms of accuracy and precision. Also its characteristics provide accurate radiometric and wavelength self calibration over the long-term project requirements.