The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR): Mission Overview and Status

The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer (CIMR) is one of the six Copernicus Expansion Missions currently being implemented by the European Space Agency and the European Commission. The mission is specifically designed to provide measurement evidence in support of developing, implementing, and monitoring the impact of the European Integrated Policy for the Arctic. The Arctic region is changing more rapidly than anywhere else in the world due to climate change and Arctic amplification. CIMR provides microwave imaging radiometry measurements at low-frequency (L-,C-,X-, K- and Ka-band) with relatively high spatial resolution and high radiometric fidelity. To address Copernicus user needs, derived Level-1 and Level2 data products will have global coverage and sub-daily revisit in the polar regions and adjacent seas. This paper presents an overview of key mission requirements [11] that underpin the CIMR mission implementation (now in Phase C/D). Two satellites are now in preparation (CIMR-A and CIMR-B) to be launched sequentially separated by ~7 years starting in 2028/29.