Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR): System Aspects and Technological Challenges

The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is one of the Copernicus High Priority Candidate mission recently approved at the ESA (European Space Agency) Ministerial Council 2019 as a reply to climate policy set by the European Commission in cooperation with ESA. CIMR is a conically scanning multi-frequency radiometer that will deploy a wide-swath with world global coverage with particular attention to the Arctic and Antarctic regions. CIMR measurements will be made using a forward scan arc followed by a second measurement using a backward scan arc. This paper will provide an overall system view of the mission in particular discussing main technical challenges. The mission is being developed in the frame of Copernicus ESA-EU partnership.