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The International Space Station (ISS) is a pioneering laboratory that provides a unique vantage point in low Earth orbit to collect data on our planet's atmosphere, climate change, natural disasters, and environmental conditions through both visual observations and dedicated instruments, contributing to a deeper understanding of Earth systems and potential solutions to environmental challenges.
Current plans are to extend space station operations until 2030.
Type
Space Stations/Crewed Spacecraft
ISS Partners
Led by the United States, the International Space Station draws upon the scientific and technological resources of 5 agencies and 15 countries.
Instruments Aboard ISS
| Instrument Name | Operational Date(s) | Spectral Resolution | Type of Instrument |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud-Aerosol Transport System (CATS) | 532, 1064 nm |
Profilers/Sounders | |
| Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation Imaging Spectrometer (EMIT Imaging Spectrometer) | July 27, 2022 - Present | 380 – 2500 nm |
Spectrometers/Radiometers |
| Ecosystem Spaceborne Thermal Radiometer Experiment on Space Station (ECOSTRESS) | 5 spectral bands in the 8 μm to 12.5 μm range and an additional band at 1.6 μm for geolocation and cloud detection (six bands total) |
Spectrometer/Radiometer | |
| Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation Lidar (GEDI Lidar) | 1 m |
Altimeter | |
| Rapid Scatterometer (RapidScat) | 13.4 GHz Ku-Band (microwave) |
Scatterometer | |
| Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment III (SAGE III) |
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