The Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer science data system, its products, tools, and performance

Ground processing of data from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR) instrument, part of NASA’s Earth Observing System (EOS), exploits new and unique science algorithms not previously used operationally. A range of data products from Level 1 through Level 3 is being produced. Because of MISR’s unprecedented design, extensive prototyping was required from a relatively early stage. The data throughput is large, necessitating an innovative software design approach that maximizes performance. The systematic science processing software was developed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), with data processing occurring at the NASA Langley Research Center using the EOS Core System (ECS), a collaborative arrangement that works well. With the availability of actual mission data following launch on the Terra spacecraft in December 1999, MISR’s computational needs have become better known, and many improvements have been made to both the science software and the production system to achieve a successful overall data processing capability. This paper provides information about MISR data for the science user, and describes the nature and scope of implementation and operations activities.