Development of the Moderate-Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) protoflight model

The moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) is scheduled for launch on the first of the Earth observing systems AM spacecraft in mid 1998. This instrument is designed to study Earth system processes and includes 36 spectral bands for study of oceanographic, atmospheric, and land surface phenomenon. The MODIS instrument has been under design and development for the past 10 years, with completion of the engineering model (EM) in mid 1995, and is now nearing completion of the first spaceflight unit, the protoflight model (PFM). This paper discusses the development of the PFM, by addressing the features and issues of the many subsystems.