Microwave Weather Imager in a Cubesat form - MWIC

A conically scanning, i.e. imaging, microwave radiometer for weather imagery, cloud characterization, ocean vector surface winds, show depth, soil moisture, tropical cyclone intensity and sea ice properties observations is proposed. Microwave radiometers are uniquely suited to provide such measurements, specifically cloud water and ice content, rain and snow precipitation rate, weather imagery underneath of cloud cover as well as the surface observations listed above. For this pilot program we propose dual polarization 20 and 150 GHz microwave radiometers with two channels each. The frequency range of this pilot covers the range of the current observational assets on orbit. Thus, it will be a demonstration of ability to replace, at least partially, these current large SWAP sensors on orbit. The ultimate vision is a satellite constellation with a short revisit time, commercially viable, providing low latency, all weather data to support the needs of the Department of Defense and other government and commercial customers. The constellation will use economical sensors working autonomously, individually expendable built with commercially available satellite bus components. A short lifespam of each satellite, 2-4 years, provides opportunity to improve capabilities of the system with annual launches.