Mission finder
Describe what you need to observe, see which existing missions already measure it and test what a new constellation would add.
Describe the problem
Open Find existing missions for a problem. Write it in your own words, for example monitor deforestation in the Congo basin, then press Find missions. The measurements it needs appear below.
This page needs a free account.
Adjust the measurements
Add a measurement, for example soil moisture, or remove one that does not fit. If none of your words matched, add measurements by hand.
Choose the area
Choose a country, an economic zone or a sea area under Area to cover. The next step needs it.
Read the missions that already address it
Missions are ordered by how well their instruments measure it, as judged by the WMO OSCAR database. Primary or Very high means the instrument is among the best suited. Check each mission’s own documents for resolution, swath and data access.
Test what a new constellation would add
Set the orbit altitude, the number of planes and satellites, and the swath. The page simulates a number of days and tells you the looks per day and the average and longest wait over your area, and what the existing missions add.
- No mission found is itself a result: the problem may be open for a new mission.
- Administrators can read the WMO database again from this page. It takes a couple of minutes.