A step back: OHB Italia is responsible for the #MWI instrument that will be operating for the #MetOp mission, a project of #ESA and #Eumetsat (EPS). MWI is a 250kg-conical scan multi-frequency microwave #radiometer providing measurement of precipitation, observations of clouds, snow, sea-ice coverage, water vapour, temperature. Launch is planned in 2024 with the purpose to provide the most accurate weather forecasts ever made before.
To integrate such a challenging instrument making sure it could reach the desired performance, a long series of tests have to be executed: one of the most important is the #calibration one, during which MWI is externally stimulated allowing the adjustment of the acquisition parameters.
The Ambient Cold Target (one of the three available targets for the instrument qualification campaign) is composed by an aluminium block of pyramidal shapes kept at the temperature of 80 K (minus 195 °C !) submerged in a bath of liquid #nitrogen to recreate a space-like condition and to test how MWI would “behave” once active in #orbit.
Microwave radiometers are increasingly used for long-lasting observation of the Earth’ atmospheric condition. Nowadays these instruments are designed for continuous and unattended operation, therefore tests’ accuracy is one the most crucial post-integration point. Now the MWI System Requirements Review has been successfully completed and the design of the instrument is fast progressing…OHB Italia is looking forward lunching in 2024…
#OHBItalia #MWI #MetOp #ESA #EarthObservation #AmbientColdTarget #MicrovaweRadiometers #LaunchPlanned2024
