The EarthCARE satellite carries four instruments, one of which is the multispectral imager.
The multispectral imager collects images over a wide swath projected onto Earth’s surface. These images provide context to help interpret the measurements made by EarthCARE’s two active instruments, the lidar and the radar, that collect information only from a thin curtain under the satellite, and to extend that information into 3D scenes.
The multispectral imager comprises two cameras that are both mounted on a common bench and use shared electronics and control units. The views from the cameras project a wide swath on Earth’s surface, which is tilted to the left side of satellite nadir to minimise the number of pixels affected by glint from the Sun.
The photograph shows the optical bench, with red covers on all of the camera apertures. The thermal infrared camera is in gold, with the Earth-pointing to camera left and a cold-space-view for calibration pointing backwards. The visible, near-infrared and shortwave-infrared camera is in silver and the long baffle of the solar view for calibration pointing to right. The radiator is on top supported by struts.
Read more about EarthCARE’s instrument package