G-V
Gulfstream-V

The Microwave Temperature Profiler (MTP) is an airborne microwave radiometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and later modified by NCAR. It measures brightness temperature from oxygen molecules at 56.363 GHz, 57.612 GHz, and 58.363 GHz. These measurements are converted into air temperature through a statistical retrieval process. It samples across 10 viewing angles and has a vertical resolution of 150 m near the aircraft. MTP provides profiles every 17 seconds with about 4 km of horizontal spacing.

The European Research Council (ERC) Instrument for Chemical composition of Aerosols (ERICA) is an in situ airborne aerosol mass spectrometer (AMS). It combines two techniques to measure aerosol chemical composition: laser desorption ionization and thermal desorption with subsequent electron impact ionization techniques. The sampled aerosol particles are first sized through optical detection and then are vaporized and ionized by a 266 nm ultraviolet laser to determine the chemical composition. ERICA can detect particles within the 120 nm to 3.5 μm size range and has a data frequency of 0.1 Hz.

The Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) is an in situ cloud probe manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the particle size distribution and concentration for cloud particles in the 2-50 μm size range. CDP detects pulses of light scattered from a laser (658 nm) to count and size individual cloud droplets. CDP has a typical measurement rate of 1 Hz and can detect concentrations of up to 2000 particles per cubic centimeter.

Generic-Atmospheric State (Gen-AtmsState) refers to non-specific instruments on a platform used for measurements of atmospheric state parameters. These are typically in situ sensors that measure temperature, pressure, humidity, and wind speed/direction. Types of atmospheric state instruments include thermometers, hygrometers, barometers, and anemometers.

The Georgia Institute of Technology Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (GT-CIMS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer. It employs a lower-pressure flow tube reactor to detect reactive nitrogen species such as nitric acid and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in the lower atmosphere. GT-CIMS typically has a temporal resolution of 1 second and a detection limit of 10 pptv.

The HIAPER Airborne Radiation Package (HARP) is an in situ airborne radiometer developed by NCAR, the University of Colorado, the Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research, Metcon, Inc., and enviscope GmbH. The instrument measures actinic flux and spectral irradiance. HARP operates in the 280-680 nm wavelength range for actinic flux and in the 260-2400 nm range for irradiance. It typically samples data at a frequency of 1 Hz.

The Trace Organic Gas Analyzer (TOGA) is an in situ airborne analyzer that measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. It combines fast gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to provide atmospheric mixing ratios of VOCs. It can detect a wide range of VOCs with high precision (<3%) and accuracy (20% or better), with a time resolution of 40 seconds for a 2-minute cycle.

The Tunable Infrared Laser Direct Absorption Spectrometer (TILDAS) is an in situ spectrometer developed by Aerodyne Research. It measures gas concentrations by determining how much light the species absorbs at a specific wavelength. TILDAS is used to detect various trace gases, including methane, nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and ammonia. The laser operates within the mid-infrared spectrum and is tuned to a specific wavelength based on the target species. It provides measurements at a data rate of up to 10 Hz. TILDAS can be deployed on aircraft, ships, trucks, and other ground-based platforms.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength, while 1651 nm wavelength is used for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

The Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS) is an in situ spectrometer developed by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It can be used on both airborne and ground-based platforms to measure aerosol size distribution and concentration. UHSAS determines particle size by detecting the peak light signals from aerosol particles illuminated by a 1054 nm laser. It can sample particles in the 60–1000 nm size range and operates at a sampling frequency of 10 Hz.

The Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) is an in situ laser-induced photometer developed by Droplet Measurement Technologies. SP2 measures the black carbon (BC) mass in individual aerosol particles, along with their optical and physical properties that contain BC. The device detects aerosol particles with diameters of 200-400 nm and can analyze up to 25,000 particles per second. It operates at a sampling rate of 1 Hz and uses a wavelength of 1.06 μm. It can be used on airborne or ground-based platforms and paired with a Humidified-Dual SP2 (HD-SP2).

The Whole Air Sampler (WAS) is an airborne in-situ instrument that collects air samples for analyzing trace gases, such as nonmethane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), halocarbons, alkyl nitrates, and various sulfur compounds found in the troposphere. Air samples collected by the WAS are then analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify the gases present. The WAS collects samples every minute, allowing scientists to get a clear picture of the environment's chemical composition as research aircraft pass through.

The Nucleation-mode Aerosol Size Spectrometer (NMASS) is an airborne, in situ spectrometer used to measure particle size distribution and cloud condensation nuclei (CCN). NMASS includes five parallel condensation nucleus counters (CNCs) that sample particles within the 3 to 60 nm diameter range. It can be mounted on various types of aircraft and is ideal for sampling cirrus clouds in the upper atmosphere. NMASS delivers rapid measurements with a temporal resolution of 10 Hz.

NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument that measures nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere. It offers a spatial resolution better than 100 meters at typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be used on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms, enabling it to support various atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.

The Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) Hygrometer is an airborne hygrometer that measures water vapor concentration in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It is an open-path, laser-based hygrometer that operates near the 1854 nm wavelength. The VCSEL hygrometer provides real-time water vapor concentration measurements at a sampling rate of 25 Hz. At this rate, the hygrometer has a spatial resolution of approximately 10 meters when the Gulfstream-V aircraft is at maximum speed.

The 2D-Stereo Particle Probe (2D-S) is an in situ airborne optical imaging device developed by SPEC Inc. It uses two diode laser beams to create stereo images of cloud particles via linear array shadowing. These images allow for the determination of cloud particle size distribution, particle number concentration, and ice or liquid water content. 2D-S has a resolution of 10 µm and can measure hydrometeors ranging from 25 to 1280 µm.

The High Spectral Resolution Lidar 2 (HSRL-2) is an airborne lidar developed by NASA's Langley Research Center. HSRL-2 measures aerosol backscatter at 355, 532, and 1064 nm wavelengths and aerosol extinction at 355 and 532 nm wavelengths. It has a horizontal resolution of 1-2 km and a vertical resolution of 15 m, with measurements taken approximately every 0.5 seconds. It replaced the original High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL).

GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) is an airborne push-broom instrument with two spectrometers. It was developed by the Radiometric Calibration and Flight Development Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) as a simulator for the GEO-CAPE mission. The first spectrometer in GCAS operates in the ultraviolet to visible (300-490 nm) range for air quality observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), formaldehyde (HCHO), and other trace gases. The second spectrometer operates in the visible to near-infrared (480-900 nm) range to provide measurements of ocean color. GCAS has a typical spatial resolution of 250m across track and 500m along track at an altitude of 9 km, with a frame rate of 12 Hz.

The Three-View Particle Imager (3V-CPI) is an in-situ airborne spectrometer and particle imager made by SPEC, Inc. The 3V-CPI combines a Cloud Particle Imager (CPI) and a 2D-Stereo Particle Probe (2D-S). Its primary function is capturing high-resolution images used to determine the size, shape, and concentration of hydrometeors. The 3V-CPI offers a resolution of 10 μm and can detect hydrometeors up to 1280 μm.

The Aero-Laser VUV Resonance Fluorescence Carbon Monoxide Analyzer (Aero-Laser VUV) is an in situ, airborne instrument made by Aero-Laser. It detects carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations using resonance fluorescence. The Aero-Laser VUV operates around a wavelength of 150 nm and typically provides a temporal resolution of 1 second. It has a detection range from 2 ppbv to 10 ppmv and an accuracy of approximately 3%.

Video cameras capture video recordings of various phenomena for research purposes. They are used on aircraft to provide continuous views of weather and terrain below the flight path. Video cameras are also employed to verify the aircraft's flight track. Additionally, they are deployed at field sites to monitor changes in vegetation, land cover, clouds, air quality, glaciers, and other Earth science phenomena.

The Cloud Droplet Probe (CDP) is an in situ cloud probe manufactured by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It measures the particle size distribution and concentration for cloud particles in the 2-50 μm size range. CDP detects pulses of light scattered from a laser (658 nm) to count and size individual cloud droplets. CDP has a typical measurement rate of 1 Hz and can detect concentrations of up to 2000 particles per cubic centimeter.

Condensation Particle Counters (CPCs) are in situ sensors that measure aerosol particle concentrations. CPCs determine aerosol levels by condensing fluid onto particles, causing them to grow to sizes detectable by optical scattering. Typically, CPCs can detect particles ranging from 7 nm to 3 μm, measure concentrations up to 100,000 particles per cubic centimeter, and provide readings every second. CPCs are manufactured by TSI Incorporated and can be used on airborne, shipborne, and ground-based platforms.

The Georgia Institute of Technology Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (GT-CIMS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer. It employs a lower-pressure flow tube reactor to detect reactive nitrogen species such as nitric acid and peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN) in the lower atmosphere. GT-CIMS typically has a temporal resolution of 1 second and a detection limit of 10 pptv.

The HIAPER Airborne Radiation Package (HARP) is an in situ airborne radiometer developed by NCAR, the University of Colorado, the Leibniz-Institute for Tropospheric Research, Metcon, Inc., and enviscope GmbH. The instrument measures actinic flux and spectral irradiance. HARP operates in the 280-680 nm wavelength range for actinic flux and in the 260-2400 nm range for irradiance. It typically samples data at a frequency of 1 Hz.

The Trace Organic Gas Analyzer (TOGA) is an in situ airborne analyzer that measures volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the atmosphere. It combines fast gas chromatography and mass spectrometry to provide atmospheric mixing ratios of VOCs. It can detect a wide range of VOCs with high precision (<3%) and accuracy (20% or better), with a time resolution of 40 seconds for a 2-minute cycle.

The Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS) is an in situ aerosol sensor that can be operated on airborne or ground-based platforms, manufactured by TSI Incorporated. SMPS uses a differential mobility analyzer (DMA) to measure the electrical mobility diameter of aerosol particles, which helps determine the size distribution. It also counts the number of aerosol particles using a condensation particle counter (CPC). It detects particles in the size range of 10-1000 nm and typically takes about 10 seconds to complete each scan.

The Peroxide Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (P-CIMS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer made by THS Instruments LLC. It is a modified CIMS instrument that operates in negative ion mode to measure gas-phase peroxide species like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and acetic acid (CH3COOH). It has detection limits of 11 ppt for H2O2 and 10 ppt for CH3COOH. P-CIMS provides measurements at a rate of 10 Hz.

The Picarro gas concentration analyzer is an in situ airborne or ground-based sensor manufactured by Picarro, Inc. It uses Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ring Spectroscopy (WS-CRDS) to measure trace gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, methane, and water vapor. For carbon dioxide measurements, the laser within Picarro operates at 1603 nm wavelength, while 1651 nm wavelength is used for methane and water vapor measurements. Picarro has a typical sampling time of 2.5 seconds. Depending on the model, Picarro can also provide measurements of carbon isotopes for gas concentrations.

The Ultra-High Sensitivity Aerosol Spectrometer (UHSAS) is an in situ spectrometer developed by Droplet Measurement Technologies. It can be used on both airborne and ground-based platforms to measure aerosol size distribution and concentration. UHSAS determines particle size by detecting the peak light signals from aerosol particles illuminated by a 1054 nm laser. It can sample particles in the 60–1000 nm size range and operates at a sampling frequency of 10 Hz.

The Closed-path Laser Hygrometer (CLH) is an in situ airborne tunable diode laser hygrometer developed by the University of Colorado and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It uses second-harmonic absorption spectroscopy to measure atmospheric water vapor. It operates at the 1.37 μm wavelength and has a measurement frequency of 0.8 Hz.

The 2D-C/P Hydrometeor Imaging Probe (2D-C/P) is an in situ, airborne instrument that captures images of hydrometeors. It records these images by detecting the illuminated or shadowed states of the photodiode array as the shadow of the hydrometeors passes over. 2D-C/P also offers measurements of particle size distribution, cloud droplet concentration, and hydrometeor shape. Typically, 2D-C/P probes have an image resolution of 25 micrometers and can image hydrometeors with diameters up to 1600 micrometers.

The Compact Atmospheric Multispecies Spectrometer (CAMS) is an in situ airborne spectrometer developed by the University of Colorado. CAMS uses mid-IR (3.53 μm) absorption spectroscopy to measure formaldehyde and ethane in the atmosphere. It employs difference-frequency generation (DFG) to produce mid-IR light by mixing two near-IR (1562 and 1083 nm) laser sources. CAMS provides high-precision measurements at a sampling rate of 1 Hz.

NOx/NOxy is an in situ chemiluminescence instrument that measures nitrogen oxides and ozone in the atmosphere. It offers a spatial resolution better than 100 meters at typical DC-8 research flight speeds. NOx/NOxy can be used on ground-based, airborne, and shipborne platforms, enabling it to support various atmospheric chemistry and air quality studies.

TSI Particle Probes are in situ particle counters and detectors manufactured by TSI Incorporated. They are used to detect aerosol particles and determine concentration and particle counts. TSI Particle Probes are typically combined with particle sizers, which can measure size distribution. TSI Particle Probes can be deployed on aircraft, research vessels, and ground-based platforms.

The Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) Hygrometer is an airborne hygrometer that measures water vapor concentration in the troposphere and lower stratosphere. It is an open-path, laser-based hygrometer that operates near the 1854 nm wavelength. The VCSEL hygrometer provides real-time water vapor concentration measurements at a sampling rate of 25 Hz. At this rate, the hygrometer has a spatial resolution of approximately 10 meters when the Gulfstream-V aircraft is at maximum speed.

The Charged-couple device (CCD) Actinic Flux Spectroradiometer (CAFS) is an in situ airborne spectroradiometer developed by the Atmospheric Radiation Investigations and Measurements (ARIM) laboratory at NCAR. CAFS measures spectrally resolved ultraviolet and visible actinic flux between 280-650 nm. These measurements can be used to derive the photolysis frequencies for several chemical compounds such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, formaldehyde, and nitrate. CAFS has a temporal resolution of 1 Hz and a wavelength resolution of about 1.8 nm at 297 nm.

The High Spectral Resolution Lidar 2 (HSRL-2) is an airborne lidar developed by NASA's Langley Research Center. HSRL-2 measures aerosol backscatter at 355, 532, and 1064 nm wavelengths and aerosol extinction at 355 and 532 nm wavelengths. It has a horizontal resolution of 1-2 km and a vertical resolution of 15 m, with measurements taken approximately every 0.5 seconds. It replaced the original High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL).

GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) is an airborne push-broom instrument with two spectrometers. It was developed by the Radiometric Calibration and Flight Development Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) as a simulator for the GEO-CAPE mission. The first spectrometer in GCAS operates in the ultraviolet to visible (300-490 nm) range for air quality observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), formaldehyde (HCHO), and other trace gases. The second spectrometer operates in the visible to near-infrared (480-900 nm) range to provide measurements of ocean color. GCAS has a typical spatial resolution of 250m across track and 500m along track at an altitude of 9 km, with a frame rate of 12 Hz.

The Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) is an airborne imaging lidar developed and operated by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is used to create topographical maps and examine the vertical structure of vegetation and ice. It has an operating wavelength of 1064 nm and pulse repetition rates up to 500 Hz. LVIS features a swath width of 2 km and a horizontal resolution of 20 m at a flight altitude of 10 km.

The Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) is an airborne imaging lidar developed and operated by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is used to create topographical maps and examine the vertical structure of vegetation and ice. It has an operating wavelength of 1064 nm and pulse repetition rates up to 500 Hz. LVIS features a swath width of 2 km and a horizontal resolution of 20 m at a flight altitude of 10 km.

The Digital Mapping System (DMS) is an airborne camera system operated and maintained by the Airborne Sensor Facility (ASF) at NASA Ames Research Center (ARC). It captures high-resolution natural color and panchromatic images of terrain, which can be used to create mosaics and topographic maps. DMS has a cross-track spatial resolution of 10 cm at nadir and a swath width of about 570 meters at an altitude of 1,500 feet. The DMS is ideal for various scientific programs that monitor environmental variations, assess global change, and respond to natural disasters.

The Multichannel Coherent Radar Depth Sounder (MCoRDS) is an airborne radar developed by the Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets (CReSIS) at the University of Kansas. It is a multichannel radar sounder that is used to measure ice sheet thickness and map ice subsurface layers to depths exceeding 4km. It operates across the 150 to 450 MHz frequency range and has a sampling frequency of up to 1.6 GHz. MCoRDS has a vertical resolution ranging from about 60 cm to about 20 m, depending on the frequency range and flight altitude.

A pyrometer is a remote-sensing infrared thermometer that measures the temperature of distant objects. It determines an object's temperature by detecting its thermal radiation. It can be mounted on aircraft, ground vehicles, or water-based platforms for surface and sea surface temperature observations. For atmospheric studies, the pyrometer usually operates in the 9.6 to 11.5 µm spectral range and has a temperature range of -25 to 200 degrees Celsius. Pyrometers typically have a response time between 5 milliseconds and 600 seconds.

The Snow Radar is an airborne ultra-wideband radar system operated by the Center for Remote Sensing and Integrated Systems (CReSIS) at Kansas University. It is a frequency-modulated, continuous wave (FMCW) system that collects radar echograms for measurements of snow thickness over sea ice and snow layering over land ice. The Snow Radar operates across the 2-18 GHz and can measure snow layers up to 100 meters in depth. It has a vertical resolution ranging from 1.5 to 12 centimeters and typically operates at 4 kHz pulse repetition frequency.

The Continuous Airborne Mapping By Optical Translator (CAMBOT) is an airborne digital camera system. CAMBOT is a three-channel digital camera that collects visible imagery to support data analysis from the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM). It has a spatial resolution of about 9 cm at a nominal flight altitude of 1,500 ft above ground level. It acquires raw images at an acquisition rate of 2 Hz.

The Hyperspec Co-Aligned VNIR-SWIR Sensor (Co-Aligned VNIR-SWIR) is a passive pushbroom spectrometer manufactured by Headwall Photonics. It can be used for airborne and ground-based imaging but is typically flown on uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). It provides spectral imagery across the visible and near-infrared (VNIR, 400-1000 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 900-2500 nm) spectrums. Co-Aligned VNIR-SWIR has an across-track spatial resolution of 0.41 meters and a nominal swath width of 264 meters for an altitude of 460 meters above ground level.

Gravimeters are passive sensors that measure the strength of Earth’s gravitational field. These measurements are used for determining density variations in rocks, oil and mineral prospecting, the monitoring of glacier changes, and the study of volcanic activity. Gravimeters can be used for airborne and ground-based operations.

The Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) was an airborne scanning lidar developed at NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF). ATM measured the changes in surface elevation to map topography and was typically used for surveying glaciers and icecaps. ATM typically flew at an altitude of 400 to 800 m and had a horizontal resolution of 10 to 20 cm. It operated at a 532 nm wavelength.

A pyrometer is a remote-sensing infrared thermometer that measures the temperature of distant objects. It determines an object's temperature by detecting its thermal radiation. It can be mounted on aircraft, ground vehicles, or water-based platforms for surface and sea surface temperature observations. For atmospheric studies, the pyrometer usually operates in the 9.6 to 11.5 µm spectral range and has a temperature range of -25 to 200 degrees Celsius. Pyrometers typically have a response time between 5 milliseconds and 600 seconds.

The Snow Radar is an airborne ultra-wideband radar system operated by the Center for Remote Sensing and Integrated Systems (CReSIS) at Kansas University. It is a frequency-modulated, continuous wave (FMCW) system that collects radar echograms for measurements of snow thickness over sea ice and snow layering over land ice. The Snow Radar operates across the 2-18 GHz and can measure snow layers up to 100 meters in depth. It has a vertical resolution ranging from 1.5 to 12 centimeters and typically operates at 4 kHz pulse repetition frequency.

The Continuous Airborne Mapping By Optical Translator (CAMBOT) is an airborne digital camera system. CAMBOT is a three-channel digital camera that collects visible imagery to support data analysis from the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM). It has a spatial resolution of about 9 cm at a nominal flight altitude of 1,500 ft above ground level. It acquires raw images at an acquisition rate of 2 Hz.

The Hyperspec Co-Aligned VNIR-SWIR Sensor (Co-Aligned VNIR-SWIR) is a passive pushbroom spectrometer manufactured by Headwall Photonics. It can be used for airborne and ground-based imaging but is typically flown on uncrewed aerial systems (UAS). It provides spectral imagery across the visible and near-infrared (VNIR, 400-1000 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 900-2500 nm) spectrums. Co-Aligned VNIR-SWIR has an across-track spatial resolution of 0.41 meters and a nominal swath width of 264 meters for an altitude of 460 meters above ground level.

The Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) was an airborne scanning lidar developed at NASA Wallops Flight Facility (WFF). ATM measured the changes in surface elevation to map topography and was typically used for surveying glaciers and icecaps. ATM typically flew at an altitude of 400 to 800 m and had a horizontal resolution of 10 to 20 cm. It operated at a 532 nm wavelength.

The High Spectral Resolution Lidar 2 (HSRL-2) is an airborne lidar developed by NASA's Langley Research Center. HSRL-2 measures aerosol backscatter at 355, 532, and 1064 nm wavelengths and aerosol extinction at 355 and 532 nm wavelengths. It has a horizontal resolution of 1-2 km and a vertical resolution of 15 m, with measurements taken approximately every 0.5 seconds. It replaced the original High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL).

GEOstationary Coastal and Air Pollution Events (GEO-CAPE) Airborne Simulator (GCAS) is an airborne push-broom instrument with two spectrometers. It was developed by the Radiometric Calibration and Flight Development Laboratory at Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) as a simulator for the GEO-CAPE mission. The first spectrometer in GCAS operates in the ultraviolet to visible (300-490 nm) range for air quality observations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), formaldehyde (HCHO), and other trace gases. The second spectrometer operates in the visible to near-infrared (480-900 nm) range to provide measurements of ocean color. GCAS has a typical spatial resolution of 250m across track and 500m along track at an altitude of 9 km, with a frame rate of 12 Hz.

The Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) is an airborne imaging lidar developed and operated by Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC). It is used to create topographical maps and examine the vertical structure of vegetation and ice. It has an operating wavelength of 1064 nm and pulse repetition rates up to 500 Hz. LVIS features a swath width of 2 km and a horizontal resolution of 20 m at a flight altitude of 10 km.

The Hyperspectral Thermal Emissions Spectrometer (HyTES) is an airborne pushbroom imaging spectrometer developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). It was designed to support the Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) missions and has been used in several research missions since 2012. HyTES offers high spatial and spectral resolution measurements of brightness temperature, emissivity, and land surface temperature. It operates across 256 spectral channels between 7.5 and 12 µm wavelengths and has an integration time of 30 ms. HyTES has a horizontal resolution of 7 m and a swath width of 3.6 km at a flight altitude of 4 km. HyTES was funded through NASA’s Earth Science Technology Office (ESTO) Instrument Incubator Program (IIP).