GIFTS-IOMI (EO 3)

GIFTS-IOMI (EO 3) [NASA]

The New Millennium Program's (NMP) Earth Observing 3 (EO3) mission, called GIFTS, is the first step in improving our operational weather observing systems. GIFTS, which stands for Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer, is an instrument that incorporates the breakthrough technologies of an innovative atmospheric measuring concept; a concept developed at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

Earth Observing 3 (EO3) GIFTS-IOMI  is a New Millennium Program's joint mission with the US Navy's Office of Naval Research. GIFTS-IOMI stands for Geosynchronous Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GIFTS) - Indian Ocean METOC Imager (IOMI). GIFTS is a highly advanced instrument selected by NASA to perform as EO3's latest weather observing instrument. Here are some interesting details on the mission:

•  GIFTS-IOMI will collect weather data from 22,000 miles away in a geosynchronous orbit. This means it will remain in a fixed position relative to Earth, while flying in an equatorial orbit at the same speed and angle as the Earth's rotation. This allows the instrument to always "stare" at us.
• The GIFTS instrument uses over 32,600 sensors to collect data, scanning an area of 317 miles square every ten seconds (data collected that fast is called near-real-time).
• GIFTS-IOMI will collect atmospheric data that helps scientists to analyze temperature, wind patterns, cloud cover, water vapor, and pollutants in our atmosphere.
• GIFTS-IOMI will help improve the accuracy of weather forecasting for the next decade by providing up-to-the-minute information, never before available, on severe weather such as hurricanes and tornadoes.
• Data collected during the mission will be available as part of the GIFTS education and public outreach programs.

GIFTS-IOMI objective is to demonstrate and flight qualify advanced technologies for application to future space missions and to provide better meteorological and atmospheric chemistry data products (results).

Due to reasons of changed priorities, the US Navy withdraw its resources for the spacecraft, but remained involved in the development of the GIFTS instrument. This caused the cancellation of the spacecraft and the IMAGE instrument. Currently it is discussed, how to proceed with the GIFTS instrument - which may fly on an other spacecraft.