WINDSAT

WINDSAT is a joint NOAA Integrated Program Office/Department of Defense/NASA demonstration project, intended to measure ocean surface wind speed and wind direction from space using a polarimetric radiometer. It was launched aboard the Coriolis satellite by a Titan II rocket on 6 January 2003 into an 830-km 98.7-degree orbit, and is designed for a three-year lifetime.

Capability and improvements

 * Measure ocean surface wind direction (nonprecipitating conditions) with a 25-km spatial resolution

Secondary Measurements

 * Sea surface temperature
 * Soil moisture
 * Rain rate
 * Ice and snow characteristics
 * Water vapor