Microwave and millimeter-wave radiometers for CubeSat deployment for remote sensing of the earth's atmosphere

摘要

Recent developments in millimeter-wave technology from 90 to 183 GHz are now being leveraged to enable CubeSat deployment of passive microwave remote sensors of atmospheric variables, including temperature, humidity, clouds and precipitation. These radiometers have the potential to revolutionize remote sensing observations by enabling revisit times of less than 30 minutes from low Earth orbit from constellations of such CubeSats when deployed as secondary payloads on frequently available launches of opportunity.