Terra and Aqua both recently completed a series of yaw maneuvers to cover a broad (roughly from -20 to -55 degrees) solar azimuth angle range to help MCST extend the characterization of the solar diffuser used for RSB calibration.

For Terra:

12 total yaw maneuvers at 2.5-degree spacing from -7.5 to 20 degrees

November 12^th -15^th, 2024 (3 per day)

For Aqua:

The combined MODIS/VIIRS Science Team Meeting was held May 1-4, 2023 in College Park, Maryland. The presentations have been archived here.

As a precursor to the meeting, MCST and VCST hosted a Calibration Workshop. Those presentations can be found here.

In March, MCST began gradually implementing several calibration algorithm improvements into the Terra and Aqua MODIS Collection 6.1 Level 1B products for the reflective solar bands. The algorithm changes, which were previously developed and tested for the upcoming Collection 7 L1B reprocess, will improve the accuracy and stability of the MODIS reflectance and radiance products going forward.

MODIS entered its modified science configuration in preparation for Terra constellation exit maneuvers (CEMs) on 2022/283. CEM #1 was performed on 2022/285 and CEM #2 was performed on 2022/292. MODIS performed an outgas from 2022/293 17:30:25 – 2022/294 19:44:48. MODIS returned to nominal science configuration on 2022/294 19:59:49. Cold focal plane temperatures are expected to reach operating range by 2022/297.

Beginning in October 2022, Terra will exit the spacecraft constellation that has been its home for the last twenty years and continue operations at a lower orbit altitude. To assure instrument health and safety, Terra/MODIS will be commanded to a modified configuration with SMIR and LWIR focal planes turned off, blackbody calibrator turned off, along with space view and nadir doors closed. MODIS will remain in this configuration throughout the duration of the constellation exit maneuvers.