Spaceborne polarimetric microwave radiometry and the Coriolis WindSat system

WindSat is a satellite-based multi-frequency polarimetric microwave radiometer being developed for the U.S. Navy and the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite system (NPOESS) Integrated Program Office. WindSat is designed to test the viability of using polarimetric microwave radiometry to measure the ocean surface wind vector from space, and is the primary payload on the Air Force Coriolis satellite, which is scheduled to launch in December 2001. The WindSat radiometer operates in discrete bands at 6.8, 10.7, 18.7, 23.8, and 37.0 GHz. The 10.7, 18.7 and 37.0 GHz channels are fully polarimetric, while the 6.8 and 23.8 GHz channels an dual polarized only (vertical and horizontal). The spaceborne segment of the WindSat program has recently completed the Critical Design Review.