Mission to Planet Earth

NASA's Mission to Planet Earth involves a variety of satellite and satellite sensors. Satellites presently in operation under this program are as follows:

1. Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS)

   This satellite is primarily used for measuring visible radiation reflected by the earth and infrared energy emitted by the earth, including oceans, atmosphere and clouds. The principal experiments with ERBS include the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment (ERBE) and the Stratospheric Aerosol and Gas Experiment (SAGE)

2. Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS)

   The UARS will carry out the first systematic, comprehensive study of the stratosphere and furnish important new data on the mesosphere and thermosphere. UARS chemistry and dynamics sensors will measure temperature, pressure, wind velocity, and concentrations of trace gas species in altitudes ranging from 15 to over 100 km. The UARS Data System Home Page gives an overview of the sensors, and more information can be obtained from

   • The Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE)
   • Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS)
   • The Cryogenic Limb Array Etalon Spectrometer (CLAES)
   • The Improved Stratospheric and Mesospheric Sounder (ISAMS)
   • High Resolution Doppler Imager (HRDI)
   • WINDII
   • SOLSTICE
   • The Solar Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitor (SUSIM)
   • The Particle Environment Monitor (PEM)
   • Active Cavity Radiometer Irragiance Monitor (ACRIM II)

3. TOPEX/Poseidon

   Data from this satellite have been viewed in the unit on El Nino, since the TOPEX/Poseidon satellite is the key platform for ocean measurements such as ocean circulation (currents and tides), wave heights, and sea-surface height anomalies as well as atmospheric wind speed and water-vapor content over ocean areas.