MCST

After several months of reviewing the performance of the Terra day/night-rate schedule (originally implemented November 8, 2020) and with input from science-team users, MCST has implemented a revised day/night schedule that goes into effect May 2, 2021 (2021/122). This updated schedule improves the day-rate data coverage by using a timing variation based on sun-angle changes throughout the year.

The MODIS and VIIRS Characterization Support Teams held a 2-day virtual calibration workshop on February 25 and 26, 2021 via MSTeams. The presentations from the workshop are posted here: https://modis.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci_team/meetings/202102/presentations.php

In preparation for Collection 7. MCST has released the proposed algorithm changes for RSB, TEB, and L1B. (https://mcst.gsfc.nasa.gov/content/collection-7)

Due to the recent PWA failure on the EOS Terra spacecraft, MODIS has a reduced on-board memory allocation. Initial efforts reduced the data rate of day mode data (reflective solar band measurements) near the poles in a uniform manner. In an attempt to provide near-global two-day coverage, an alternating schedule was implemented starting November 8, 2020 (2020/313).

The Terra spacecraft experienced a PWA (printed-wire assembly) failure on Monday, October 5, 2020. The incident was noted by the Terra flight operations team at 15:21:12z.  As part of the recovery, science recording was disabled on October 6 (2020/280) at 03:32:56z to handle the moving of the supersets and was re-enabled at 03:41:56z.