Status of Terra and Aqua MODIS instruments

Since launch, Terra and Aqua MODIS have successfully operated for more than 10 years and 8 years, respectively. Data products derived from MODIS observations have been widely distributed to the science and user community, enabling a broad range of applications. MODIS collects data in 36 spectral bands, covering wavelengths from visible (VIS) to long-wave infrared (LWIR). They are calibrated on-orbit by a set of on-board calibrators (OBC). This paper provides an overview of instrument operation, calibration, and performance, including lessons learned. Though having exceeded their design lifetime of 6 years, both Terra and Aqua MODIS continue to perform well, collect useful data, and support Earth remote sensing applications.