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ITT Imager and sounder instruments have been on the following GEO programs:
Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES)
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| ITT's imager and sounder on board GOES Satellite provide vital data to track and predict behavior of storms such as hurricane Mitch pictured above. |
ITT has built every imager and sounder onboard the GOES series. GOES has allowed meteorological observation to be "earth synchronous." By continuously surveying a particular area, like the East Coast of the US and Caribbean, GOES has become the backbone for the US civil early warning weather system. With the Imager's multi-spectral design and increased sensitivity it can detect temperature fluctuations; variation in low-level moisture; track hurricanes from their inception as tropical storms; track tornadoes and other severe storms; and alert residents as high-velocity winds approach land. In compiling such data, meteorologists are able to issue warnings and advisories long before they take their effect.
Multifunction Transport Satellite (MTSAT-2)
ITT's excellence in meteorological monitoring has drawn the interest of other countries. Japan's Multi-Function Transport Satellite (MTSAT-2) carries an ITT-designed and built imager with five total observation channels - four in infrared and one in the visible wavelength. Upgrades from earlier weather satellites include twice as many imaging cycles, an improved ability to discern low-level clouds and fog, and making more accurate sea surface temperature estimates at night. It provides accurate radiometric data used to evaluate surface, cloud, and atmospheric properties for the entire Asia-Pacific region. Furthermore, ITT has incorporated the ability to capture these images using state-of-the-art day/night imagery.
Communications, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS-1)
ITT has also provided a meteorological imager to the Korean Aerospace Research Institute. When on-orbit, the imaging radiometer will use data obtained from its five channels to continuously produce images of the Earth's surface, oceans, severe storm development, cloud cover, cloud temperature and height, surface temperature, and water vapor density. It will help the country's weather authorities to work more independently as South Korea's weather forecasts are now relying on U.S. and Japanese satellites.
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