synchronous orbit. This means the
instrument will see different parts
of the planet at different times of
day, making measurements in the
same spot within less than an hour
before or after another instrument
makes its own observations. These
all-hour measurements will allow ISSRapidScat to pick up the effects of
the sun on ocean winds as the day
progresses. In addition, the space
station’s coverage over the tropics
means that ISS-RapidScat will offer
extra tracking of storms that may
develop into hurricanes or other
tropical cyclones.
“We’ll be able to see how wind
speed changes with the time of
day,” said Rodríguez. “ISS-RapidScat will link together all previous
and current scatterometer missions,
providing us with a more complete picture of how ocean winds
change. Combined with data from
the European ASCAT scatterometer
mission, we’ll be able to observe 90
percent of Earth’s surface at least
once a day, and in many places,
several times a day.”
ISS-RapidScat’s near-global coverage of Earth’s ocean -- within the
space station’s orbit inclination of
51.6 degrees north and south of the
equator -- will make it an important
tool for scientists who observe and
predict Earth’s weather. “Frequent
observations of the winds over the
ocean are used by meteorologists
to improve weather and hurricane
forecasts and by the operational
weather communities to improve
numerical weather models,” said
Rodríguez.
Much of what makes ISS-RapidScat unusual is how it came to
be. “Space Station Program Manager Michael Suffredini offered us
a mounting location on the space
station and a free ride on a SpaceX
Dragon cargo resupply mission
laun