The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectrometer. An EOS facility instrument candidate for application of data compression methods

Summary form only given. MODIS is a multispectral imaging system to be flown on the Earth Observing System (EOS) in the late 1990´s. The system will be composed of two cross-track scanning instruments. One instrument is called MODIS-N (nadir), indicating a multispectral scanner that will not be tilted and provide a continuous cross-track scan. The other instrument is called MODIS-T (tilt), indicating a scanner that will allow the cross-track scan to be tilted ±50° fore and aft. Data coming from the MODIS observing facility will amount to something near a terabyte per day depending upon the total time when the instruments are on, and the amount of ancillary information acquired concerning spacecraft attitude, etc. It is appropriate to consider the MODIS as a case study for methods that would reduce the volume of data involved for processing, archiving, distribution and analysis. A specific instance concerns the transmission of data by direct read-out to the scientist or user at a given location