In the other one, a pair of Teledyne CIS120 sensors launched on GOSAT-GW, Japan’s global observing satellite for greenhouse gases and water cycle satellite
Sentinel-4 will be spread across multiple satellites, with this Sentinel-4 package hitching a ride on one of Meteosat third-generation sounder satellites (MTG-S).
Designed to scan the earth for 10 years, this part of Sentinel-4 is carrying two Teledyne CCD sensors within its ultra-violet to near-infra-red imaging spectrometer.
CCD374 (see photo) covers UV to visible wavelengths, while CCD376 works in near-IR. They are designed to last for at least 10 years in space.
From a geostationary orbit, the aim is to image the earth at many wavelengths, from which information on trace gases including ozone, nitrogen dioxide and sulphur dioxide can be extracted. Data on the troposphere over Europe will be sent to air quality monitoring projects on the ground every hour.
“Our sensors were selected due to the heritage of our work on Sentinel-2 and -3, as well as internal developments that met the needs of this mission,” said Teledyne lead engineer Ross Mackie.
Teledyne CCDs are made in Essex UK.