Title :
The MIRAS demonstrator pilot project
Author :
Borges, A. ; Solana, A. ; Plaza, M.A. ; Sanz, J.A. ; Garcia, Q.
Author_Institution :
CASA Space Div., Madrid, Spain
Abstract :
MIRAS (Microwave Imaging Radiometer with Aperture Synthesis) is a microwave radiometer to measure Ocean Salinity and Soil Moisture (SMOS). Both parameters have a strong scientific interest in understanding the water cycle behaviour. MIRAS measurements are based on the microwave sensitivity changes in the dielectric constant due to humidity and salinity content. Aperture synthesis allows one to obtain good spatial resolution and radiometric sensitivity with a thinned antenna. SMOS mission (MIRAS) has been selected within the Earth Observation programme of ESA for a launch in mid 2005. CASA Space Division is leading a pre-phase A technology demonstrator of MIRAS by building one L-band segment to consolidate the technology and to limit risk and mission cost. CASA will lead the phase A technology programme whose kick-off will be before summer 2000
Keywords :
hydrological techniques; moisture measurement; oceanographic techniques; radiometry; remote sensing; soil; terrain mapping; CASA; L-band; MIRAS; Microwave Imaging Radiometer with Aperture Synthesis; SMOS; demonstrator pilot project; hydrology; measurement technique; microwave radiometer; microwave radiometry; ocean; remote sensing; salinity; sea surface; soil moisture; terrain mapping; thinned antenna;
Conference_Titel :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2000. Proceedings. IGARSS 2000. IEEE 2000 International
Conference_Location :
Honolulu, HI
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-6359-0
DOI :
10.1109/IGARSS.2000.860306
