An overview of the mission sensor systems of the DMSP satellites

The present investigation has the objective to provide an overview of the mission sensors of the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) satellites. Typically, DMSP satellites are in sun-synchronous 101-minute orbits of 870 km (450 nautical miles) altitude. Data obtained by the sensor systems may be transmitted in real time to aircraft carriers or transportable terminals. The primary sensor on the DMSP satellite is the Operational Linescan System (OLS), which provides visible light and infrared imagery day and night. Each mission sensor interfaces directly with the OLS, providing a designated number of data bits once each second on request by the OLS. The sensors discussed include the temperature and humidity sounder, the microwave temperature sounder, the ionospheric plasma monitor, the precipitation electron and proton spectrometer, the magnetometer, the passive topside ionosonde, the gamma ray detector, the scanning X-ray spectrometer, and the space radiation dosimeter.