Multispectral Thermal Imager (MTI) Satellite Imaging Operations and Performance

MTI is a comprehensive R&D project, featuring a single satellite in sun-synchronous orbit designed to collect radiometrically accurate images of instrumented ground sites in 15 spectral bands ranging from visible to long-wave infrared. The satellite was launched from Vandenberg Air Force Base on March 12, 2000 aboard an Orbital Sciences Corporation Taurus rocket. After launch, the operations team completed a 3-month turn-on, checkout and alignment procedure, and declared the satellite ready for its R&D mission on June 14, 2000. The satellite has collected over 1850 images in support of its research mission. This paper presents a brief satellite overview and documents satellite autonomous control, operations, and performance